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Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 3, 2008

SPRING HILL - The notoriously busy Four Corners intersection was even noisier than usual Sunday.

Several firefighters and their families were standing by the street holding signs. They wanted to encourage motorists to vote yes on a referendum that would allow them to break free from county control.

Those standing at the corner of Mariner Boulevard and Spring Hill Drive were buoyed by the sounds of honking horns and the sights of thumbs pointed upward.

"I would say 98 percent of everything we get is a wave or a honk," said Capt. Jim Billotte, who stood in front of the Taco Bell holding up a "Vote Yes" sign. "Occasionally, we get a salute."

More than 20 people were at that intersection Sunday. A few miles west, at the corner of Pinehurst and Spring Hill drives, roughly a dozen more pro-independence supporters were assembled and armed with signs.

"I think we're going to win this," said Larry Kozloski, who is a maintenance technician with the fire district. "In the future, (people) will look back and realize it was good that we won. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Kozloski, like the others, wants the district to have its own board of commissioners. If the vote is no, the board will be dissolved and the county commissioners will take over. The latter already has the final word on personnel and budgetary matters. That would be stopped if the vote is yes.

The debate has raged for the past 18 months, ever since an ordinance was narrowly defeated that would have disbanded the fire board. Those county commissioners who voted against it thought it was a matter best left up to the residents of Spring Hill.

"I'm here to support our union and keep our taxes low," said Spring Hill firefighter Eric Longo, who was joined by his wife, Sharon.

Proponents on both sides think they would save money. Those who want an independent district say most residents - nearly 75 percent - would see a reduction in property taxes if the vote is yes.

Those against independence think taxpayers would be required to pay for the district's new hires, which would include a human resources director, budget director and other administrative staff. The savings would cost more than $544,000 per year if the vote is no, according to the county administrator's office.

Mostly everyone holding a "vote yes" sign was either an employee of the fire district or related to an employee.

There were hundreds of people honking horns as they passed them along the street.

Edwin Guillen, a communications officer with the district, waved to one motorist as he drove by in a Nissan Frontier heading south along Mariner.

He held a can in his hand, which he held up as he honked and waved at Guillen. It was a beer can.

Gillen shook his head.

"You see some of the strangest things out here, man," he said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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