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Hernando Today
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Jacobs Speaks Out
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Published: July 11, 2008
SPRING HILL - During a 15-minute rant Wednesday night, fire commissioner Leo Jacobs criticized board members who presided over the fire district nearly two decades ago.
Fellow commissioner George Biro didn't interpret it that way and took offense to Jacobs' comments, thinking he took a swipe at the current board.
Jacobs thought previous commissioners did not take a tough enough stand against the county. He thinks they let the government meddle too often.
"In the past, the board had a responsibility to the citizens of Spring Hill," Jacobs explained the next day. "It failed to do its job."
He told Biro he was not referring to him or to anyone else on the current board, even though he used the word "we" several times during his comments.
Jacobs has appeared - both as a fire commissioner and private citizen - at several county commission meetings. Last month, commissioners rejected any changes to the upcoming referendum, which will ask voters whether they want an independent fire district.
If residents vote against independence, the county will take over and the board of fire commissioners will be dissolved.
That might have been what led to Jacobs revisiting the past.
"From what I gather, he's not happy with the language of the referendum," Biro said.
The ballot question will read, "Based on the foregoing, should the Florida Legislature enact a special act creating an independent fire control district to encompass the geographic region of Hernando County commonly known as 'Spring Hill?'"
Voters will then have a choice - yes or no - for the creation of the district.
Fire commissioners thought the referendum did not adequately explain what a no vote means, which is that the county would have complete control of the fire district and the fire board would be dissolved.
The county rejected any request to change the referendum language, so fire commissioners will rely on public outreach to inform voters.
"We're at the mercy of the county at this point," Biro admitted.
Jacobs was not satisfied with the district's attempts to "educate" voters, saying "it never works."
Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.
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