Hillsborough Commissioner Kevin Beckner questions contract for HDR, engineers on flawed water reservoir
By Kelly Cornelius
PoHo contributor & R-LAND activist
Hillsborough County 
Commissioner Kevin Beckner proved once again Wednesday morning why he is the voter’s cure for ex-Commissioner Brian Blair. Beckner pulled item A-27 from the Consent Agenda (you know the place where they vote on fortunes to be doled out without even discussion). A-27 had buried in it an award to HDR. Yes, that same HDR, responsible for the controversial Lithia Pinecrest PD and E study, and the same HDR being sued for by Tampa Bay Water for its design on the cracking reservoir.
That item on the consent agenda even got past me but not Beckner. He pulled the item for discussion and said he would not support giving taxpayer money to them in light of the reservoir concerns until they had redeemed themselves. He got some arguments from Commissioner Jim Norman and even a county attorney, but Beckner stood strong. While he couldn’t get the support to completely blackball the company, he did get everyone’s support to send the item back to staff for further review.
Last week during budget talks, he presented fellow board members with an idea to save the Victim’s Assistance Program and the Consumer Protection Agency which were both on the budget chopping block. Beckner asked why should the cost for these programs be borne by law abiding citizens? He suggested that the officials charge criminals more for booking in order to support the Victim’s Assistance program and the Consumer Protection Agency. After all, it is the criminals supplying the need for these programs so shouldn’t they be funding them? Ultimately the sheriff has to approve these increases in booking fees that Beckner suggested. Beckner told the board “Crime doesn’t pay but I believe in Hillsborough County criminals will.”
I am just afraid that this guy is way too good to stay very long in Hillsborough’s little backyard game of politics. Might as well enjoy him while we can.
