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Hernando Today

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2008

Time To Seriously Look At Countywide Fire Service

The buzz words were "pride and cooperation" as the Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) and City of Brooksville Fire Department sealed the deal on their interlocal agreement to share space for the next 25 years. This agreement has HCFR closing the Station 24 and moving in with the City of Brooksville's fire department.

In a recent Hernando Today article, HCFR Chief Nickerson said this would save the taxpayers more than $1.6 million because they would not have to build a standalone firehouse. They will be using $572,000 in impact fee money to build an addition onto the Brooksville Fire Department on Veterans Avenue in Brooksville.

"It's a new day in Brooksville and a new day in Hernando County" when the government considers the best interest of taxpayers in their decisions," said Brooksville Fire Chief Tim Mossgrove. Please tell us how a duplication of services for two fire departments, housed in one building for 25 years, is in the best interest of the taxpayers.

Are we all living in some type of time warp? How is spending over a half a million dollars on an unnecessary building addition to the Brooksville Fire Department in the best interest of the taxpayers? Which department is going to pay for the upkeep on this building for the next 25 years? Is the city going to charge the county for utilities, such as electric, phone water, and garbage service? Is there a lease agreement involved between the city and county fire departments to cover all these costs, or is it going to be up to the city taxpayers to pick up the tab?

The citizens living in Township 22 tried to warn the HCFR before they took over this district a few years ago. Their main objection was that the City of Brooksville was already providing service this area and there was no need for an additional county fire department. In fact, city fire hydrants were previously installed in the majority of this area to provide the Brooksville Fire Department with adequate water supply, and now the county is using this equipment that was paid by Township 22. The citizens were very vocal with their objections, citing duplication of services.

The most pressing problem with this new spirit of cooperation is the existing billing systems of the two fire departments. The City of Brooksville charges the city taxpayers at an ad valorem rate of approximately of 2.5 mil using an MSTU method.

The county charges residential customers $195 a year on an MSBU. Some people in the city pay minimal fees, or no fire fees, on the MSTU method while county residents all pay a flat rate residential fee of $195. Incidentally, both fire departments charge commercial customers at different rates, too.

This new spirit of cooperation should have been the announcement that one of these fire departments would officially close its doors. Maybe it's time to seriously look at a countywide service, as suggested in the consultant's report last year.

It's time to stop putting Band Aids on a broken fire system that continues to cost the taxpayers for duplication of services in some areas, while neglecting many other areas of the County.

Anna Liisa Covell

Nobleton

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