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Hernando Today

SHFD Town Hall Meeting Subdued, Lacked 'Hardball Questions'

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: October 11, 2008

SPRING HILL - Based on findings from last year's controversial fire study, a consolidated fire department might actually be a worthy endeavor, according to one local 20-year fire department veteran.

Surprisingly, that opinion was said out loud by Spring Hill Fire Rescue interim chief Mike Rampino during a town hall meeting Thursday night.

There is one part of the study he rejects - the reliance of a computer to determine when and where ambulances should be ready to respond.

"Because of call loads, a computer can predict when we can take away an ambulance for a particular time of the day," Rampino said the next morning. "I don't like the idea of shutting these trucks down ... You send people home. (Fewer) people are there to fight a fire."

Thursday's town hall was designed to open the floor to residents who had questions about the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District, the upcoming referendum and what would happen after they voted for or against independence.

In all, 20 people walked to the podium. A couple of them returned to ask more questions. But the meeting was more of a mild-mannered question-and-answer session compared to the previous town hall meeting last year, which were more like a roaring pep rally.

Then, the audience swelled to more than 150 people. Thursday's crowd was less than half that.

"I didn't get the people who are against (independence)," said fire board Chairman Raborn after the meeting. "We got softball questions. Hardball questions weren't really asked."

The only one who answered questions Wednesday was Rampino. All five fire commissioners were present, but none would speak other than Raborn, who only served as the moderator.

The meeting was not televised, and the board's legal counsel was not present.

Rampino's reference to the study came following a question by Spring Hill resident Joe Holland. He wondered whether his taxes or insurance rates would increase if the county took over the district.

Spring Hill voters will decide Nov. 4 on whether to have an independent fire district. If they vote no, it would merge with the county and the fire board would be dissolved.

While answering Holland's question, Rampino said if he was assured the county would follow the fire study "to a tee," he would consider voting against independence.

But he took exception to the Emergency Medical Services Deployment Strategies section of the fire study, which suggested removing ambulances from areas based on call volumes.

In other words, if there are typically no emergency calls along Deltona Boulevard after 8 p.m., the ambulances at the nearest fire station would essentially be "shut down" during those late-night hours.

Other sections of the 574-page study made it seem as if the county would benefit from a structure resembling that of the district, Rampino said.

The master plan calls for a special taxing district and governing board, which Spring Hill has, he said.

The study also recommends an additional 144 firefighters and at least 40 more administrators.

Other questions Thursday ranged from tax questions to the department's ladder truck.

One resident, Mike Higgins, said the truck saved his home from total destruction during a fire last year because it provided firefighters quicker access to the roof.

"I wanted to commend the chief and crew on the ladder truck," Higgins said.

Some of the residents who spoke were familiar critics of the fire board, but most of the speakers were advocates for an independent district.

Raborn said during an interview with Hernando Today two months ago that he wished for a diversity of opinions during the forthcoming town hall meetings, not another "pep rally."

The next town hall will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Knights of Columbus building at 10470 Spring Hill Drive.

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

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