In a story carried by Hernando Today, information about what the group asked the county for in order to keep the conventions there is staggering from a financial standpoint. After having to put up tents for the annual meetings, Jim Duncan, Southeast Area Motor Coach Association president told county officials the RV club just couldn't do with it any more – they needed permanent structures. Responding to the call, Wayne Dukes said for the County Commission, "We don't have that kind of money." Dukes is the commission chairman.
County bean counters did a preliminary estimate of just how much the county would have to shell out to meet the demands of the FMCA and the calculator must have made a gagging sound when the final figure was cranked out: Seven to eight million dollars – in addition to three million more for the requisite buildings. Still, the full commission will take the matter into consideration at a future meeting.
In addition to the buildings, ready to seat two to three thousand people, the FMCA says it needs at least 1,000 RV sites, 25 by 50 feet, all equipped with electricity, and at least half with full hookups. According to Hernando Today, FMCA's Duncan wrote the commission, "If you were able to provide the above, not only would FMCA grace your area but many others as well."
In addition to putting up buildings and providing the other items needed to keep the motorcoach group happy, the county would likely have to rezone the property and change the airport's master plan. The airport is where the group has met for its conventions these years past.
As far as the preliminary view of those on the commission who spoke to the media, it doesn't sound too promising. "It's a lot of money," said Jim Adkins, a commission member. "It's too much money."
2 comments:
If FMCA could afford it each of the past 15 years, why can't they afford putting up their own tents this year? FMCA membership is up, and costs can't be up that much over last year. Seems FMCA and the county could work a deal that asks a whole lot less of the county this year for a bit of assistance in using tents like last year. Also seems like FMCA, having rented tents for 15 years, just might have considered buying their own tents. They might have even used them to generate some income throughout the balance of the year.
Considering my current plans look to a relocation to Hernando County & Brooksville in about 5 years, I guess this is good to hear. A county government that won't go overboard spending taxpayers dollars.
We plan to move there to be closer to our daughter and closer to other states for RV Road Trips upon retirement. The long haul from South Florida, Ft Laud, is just too far.
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