FINAL Document 1/23/2013 - Hardee County

Infrastructure
Comments received from the January 25, 2011 Community Wide Kick-Off
• Develop community transit – for the elderly and less mobile (these groups lack transportation)
• Develop a landfill/incinerator (garbage issue) – economic dollar generator (other communities pay to use the
facility) (see also Econ Development)
• Revitalize infrastructure/improvements (i.e., roads)
• Recycling center/separation (see also Economic Development)
o Privatize and create jobs
• Better road maintenance – pave dirt roads
• Lack of parks (see also Land Use)
• Increase fire hydrants/fire protection throughout county (better insurance rates)
• Improved lighting and sidewalks (Safe Routes To School)
• Improved lighting will lead to less crime
• Need recycling program
• Recycling program (county/regional)
• Reduce vehicle miles travelled to services/employment/retail (see also Land Use)
• Future development/services
o Services not segregated
o Segments of community ignored
Community Comments February 28, 2011
Hardee County has approximately 310 miles of paved roads and approximately 202 miles of unpaved roads. What are
your thoughts on this?
• Keep unpaved roads (want more)
• County gets request to stabilize unpaved roads to minimize dust, repair ruts and improve conditions
• More paved roads equals more maintenance costs
• Hardee County receives gas tax funds that can be used for roads/maintenance
• Unpaved roads equal increased long-term costs but less up front capital costs (as compared to paved roads)
• Also have to look at paved road conditions and maintenance
• The County’s road maintenance program can be used as an economic development tool if they use local
contractors to repair and improve roads; local contractor provides local jobs and revenues back to the County
Other infrastructure thoughts and needs?
• Need for (increased ) lighting in selected areas throughout the County; look at roads and parks
o Can look to a lighting district for a smaller area versus county-wide
• Need more sidewalks and lighting especially for the kids (in and around schools and for the bus stops)
o There are unsafe conditions for kids walking to the school bus stop
• Need more animal control
• Look at providing a rate incentive if someone provides a private security light in these areas
• Need to look at lighting in targeted areas
• There is a lack of lighting in the MLK neighborhood
o IF the area was annexed, the City of Wauchula could provide that service
• Ask the State/FDOT to reallocate lighting funds from 17 and other main roads to other roads in the County
Emergency Services; currently Hardee County has an ISO rating of 4
Disagree; outside of 10 miles from a fire station, the insurance rate is higher
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