County Mulls Contract, Fire Pact

BROOKSVILLE - County commissioners today will discuss approving a contract for David Hamilton, the board's choice for county administrator.

Hamilton, currently county administrator in Crow Wing County, Minn., has already accepted the terms of the contract, which starts him off at $135,000 a year. After six months on the job and a satisfactory evaluation, he would get a 5 percent pay hike, raising his salary to $141,175.

Hamilton has been county administrator of Crow Wing since 2006, where he makes about $110,000.

But the contract doesn't become official until commissioners ratify it.

Under the contract terms, Hamilton would receive medical, dental and vision insurance at no cost to himself, spouse or legal dependents. Depending on which package he chooses, that can range from $4,700 to $12,200 per year, according to an e-mail from Human Resources Director Barbara Dupre.

Hamilton is also entitled to education reimbursement of $3,000 per year, Dupre said.

The county will also pay for a portion of his retirement which, according to current state parameters, would amount to about $14,850. On top of that, he would receive a 3 percent deferred retirement compensation totaling about $4,000. Hamilton will also get the use of a county-owned Ford 500 sedan, the same vehicle his predecessor drove. Also at today's county commission meeting, the board will:

Discuss signing off on an agreement between the county and the city of Brooksville which would allow for automatic mutual aid in the event of fire emergencies. The new pact would replace the current four-year-old agreement which allows Brooksville only to request for assistance on a case-by-case basis.

Consider authorizing the county administrator to set up a meeting among the six fire departments serving Hernando County. Fire representatives would prepare recommendations on how best to implement some of the suggestions from the recently completed consultant's fire master plan. Honor Randy Sevald on his retirement from Interconnect Cable Technologies Corporation at the Hernando County Airport. Sevald and his company - which he recently sold - have supported several local charities.