County Commissioners Fine With Last-Minute Referendum Wording

SPRING HILL - At least two county commissioners don't mind one more change to the ballot language.

Attorneys for the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District have been working on it for more than a year and seemed to have reached a final recommendation.

During a fire board workshop Wednesday night - less than a week before the suggested referendum was supposed to go before the board - a last-minute change was made.

That is OK by the county.

"I've listened to the proposed language they voted on and I don't have a problem with it," said county commissioner Dave Russell.

He thinks it is best to be "up front" with residents and be assured they have all the information they need to make an educated vote.

Prior to Wednesday, the referendum asked Spring Hill residents whether the Florida Legislature should ratify a "special act creating an independent fire control district to encompass the geographic region of Hernando County commonly known as 'Spring Hill.'"

Residents would have a choice to answer "yes" or "no."

Fire commissioners decided Wednesday it wasn't enough. Voters should know what a negative vote means, they said.

If they vote no, the county dissolves the fire board and assumes full control of the district and its assets. That is something Spring Hill firefighters and some residents hope to avoid.

Fabian R. Lokenauth, an attorney for the district, suggested adding that a no vote would lead to the "incorporation of the district into Hernando County."

Four out of five fire commissioners approved that addition to the ballot language and will formerly introduce it to the county board Tuesday morning.

"I don't really have a problem with that," said county commission chairman Chris Kingsley. "Maybe that's what will get us over the hump."

The fire chief, at least one attorney and two fire commissioners will be at the meeting.

Fire board chairman Charles Raborn said he will be in attendance for at least part of the hearing.

He said he was encouraged by the comments from Russell and Kingsley.

"This is a very, very important issue," Raborn said. "It's not to be taken lightly. It needs to be worded so that it is understood by everybody."