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Time Running Out For Landscaping

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By SUSAN M. GREEN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 2, 2008

Updated: 01/31/2008 08:22 pm

RUSKIN - The clock is ticking on saving four landscaped medians along U.S. 41 between College and 19th avenues.

Hillsborough County extended a previous deadline of Jan. 1 for the Ruskin Community Development Foundation to find sponsors to take care of the medians according to state highway standards. The new deadline is Wednesday.

Julie Johanboeke, who works for the county's Public Works Department, said she has been corresponding with foundation members to work out an agreement for median maintenance. If an agreement cannot be reached shortly, the ground cover and shrubs will be removed and replaced with Bahia grass, Johanboeke said.

Officials have said they notified the foundation last fall that county maintenance, estimated to cost about $15,000 annually, would cease because of budget cuts. The county has maintained the medians for three years.

On state roads, unless there's an alternative maintenance agreement, the Florida Department of Transportation is responsible for keeping medians mowed and making sure landscaping does not interfere with motorists' visibility. The state has guidelines generally restricting median landscaping to palm trees and grass.

The foundation paid $10,000 in 2002 for a landscape plan for nine medians on a 1.7-mile stretch of U.S. 41. Four of them received special landscaping through grants and sponsors.

Jim Johnson, a past president of the Ruskin and Riverview chambers, recently helped find sponsors for U.S. 301 medians in Riverview. He and Sandy Council of Ruskin have been negotiating with county officials.

Johnson said Tuesday he has received an estimate for maintaining the landscaped medians from a lawn care company that works on state highways. He said he hopes to arrange a meeting with state and county transportation officials and the Ruskin foundation before the deadline.

He declined to reveal the amount but said businesses can share the costs of a single median and pay an "affordable" amount. He said signs recognizing sponsors will be posted in the medians.

For information, call Council at (813) 645-7710.

Reporter Susan M. Green can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or sgreen@tampatrib.com.

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