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Hernando Today

Just Say 'No' To Spring Hill Fire Rescue Referendum

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

I guess the ink is dry on the "talking points" generated by the Spring Hill Fire Board. Now the barrage of information can begin.

One must remember that information generated by the Spring Hill Fire Board and the members of Local 2794 are, of necessity, biased in favor of independence from county control. Who are the handfuls of opposing views? I suspect that many are the people who voted twice before to keep SHFR from becoming independent.

A spin can be put on the last two votes that they were for keeping SHFR as it is by voting against independence. I would place another spin on it. Because the option to abolish the SHFR board and incorporate into the county wasn't in the wording, they voted the best they could by saying that they didn't want an independent fire district.

Now the voters have a clear choice: A "yes" vote removes local control of the SHFR; and a "no" vote places the control where it is now and should remain, with the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners.

However, the union and the fire board will argue that the residents will still have local control. No they won't, because if you disagree in any way with the board your recourse isn't to the county commissioners in Brooksville. You have to travel to Tallahassee and attend the meeting of the state's oversight committee. So in essence a "yes" vote will create an organization with little or no real oversight of its activities.

As the union said in its editorial piece, cutting corners can mean property and lives lost. So can inefficiency. A call to 911 must now be answered by the county dispatcher, that dispatcher must ascertain the nature of the call. If it is police - whether it comes from Spring Hill or anywhere else in the county - it remains with the dispatcher. However, if the call is for fire or rescue in Spring Hill, it must be passed to the SHFR dispatcher. At best this will result in a delay of 10 to 15 seconds, but could easily result in a longer time if the caller isn't calm and collected.

I say that Spring Hill residents should retain local control of their fire board by voting "no," abolishing the fire board and having one fire and rescue service for the county -- not two. This is costing the Spring Hill residents and the county money that could be better spent on other services.

Harry Chamberlain

Spring Hill

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