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Hernando Today

District Has Almost 30 Credit Cards

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: January 16, 2009

SPRING HILL - During a public forum late last year, Scott Edmiston pulled a credit card out of his wallet and held it up so that the new magnetic strip was showing in plain view.

The sticker normally found on a newly mailed credit card had not been peeled from the plastic. The card had not been used. He was aiming to prove the point that while firefighters might have credit cards, it doesn't mean they are carelessly going on shopping sprees.
Edmiston has been a captain for five years. The other 14 who share his rank in the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District also have a credit card.

"I would say about 10 cards are very active," said Spring Hill Fire Chief Mike Rampino.

There are nearly 30 total credit cards dispersed among the rank and file at the fire district.

He guessed that roughly 90 percent of the purchases are made by one man - Walter Michalski, the department's supply clerk.

A few more are known to make regular purchases, including mechanic Calvin Hatcher, maintenance technician Larry Kozloski and Assistant Chief Bill Davies. Their names often are seen on the billing statements collected by the Hernando County Purchasing Department.
Michalski buys everything from medical supplies to paper towels for the fire stations, Rampino said.

One of the largest purchases he made in November was $736.68 on uniforms at PJ's Army Navy - which is now a home-based military apparel store in Brooksville.

"We won't buy anything from PJ's in another year," said Rampino. "We usually do it all at once - shirts, pants, shoes, belts."

Every month, the district averages between $10,000 and $13,000 in credit card purchases, he said.

The billing period that ended in mid-December had a total of $13,858.98, according to county records.

The total for the month prior was $8,431.

For both months, the major spenders were Michalski, Hatcher and Kozloski, according to the Purchasing Department.

Fire commissioner Rob Giammarco thinks taxpayers would be better served if the district only distributed seven credit cards. He doesn't see the need to give one to every captain.

"I think the (district chiefs) should have them and the supply clerk is the one who buys the shirts, but why should captains have them?" he asked. "I wish it were done a little differently."

For the time being, all of the statements are submitted to the county. The board of fire commissioners also reviews the bills each month.

Some of the other charges listed on last month's bill included a $114.58 payment to Home Depot, $434.20 to NAPA Auto Parts and $861.08 to Flash Equipment - a wholesaler that distributes vehicle warning lights and sirens.

Rampino said the decision to have 28 credit cards in circulation was made both by the county and the district. He wants captains to have them in case a station runs out of light bulbs or there is a clog in the sink. He doesn't want them to call the supply clerk during off hours when someone can drive down the street and buy the supplies at the nearest Wal-Mart.

"Everything on those bills is absolutely justifiable," Rampino said.

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

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