Fire Debate Sparks Passion

County commissioners carved out time at their Tuesday meeting to inform people of the ordinance they crafted spelling out what would happen should the district become independent.

County Administrator David Hamilton said a county-controlled district could save the county $544,103 a year, mainly because of savings incurred from the merging of the county and Spring Hill dispatch systems.

That brought a sharp rebuke from fire commission candidate Amy Brosnan, who questioned why the county waited until two weeks before the election to release that information.

However, Hamilton reminded the audience that the information has been available for weeks.

Hamilton reiterated the county's intent not to take services away from Spring Hill should voters wish to keep control in the hands of the county. That is clearly spelled out in an ordinance, he said.

"We are not closing fire houses and we are not selling trucks," Hamilton said. "The ordinance is there. It is county law."

The Spring Hill Fire Rescue District independence issue has ignited passions on both sides.

On Nov. 4, Spring Hill voters go to the polls to decide whether they want an independent fire district, overseen by the state, or wish to keep control under the board of county commissioners.

Fire Commissioner Leo Jacobs said Tuesday it is a fallacy residents will have to drive to Tallahassee to file complaints should their fire department become independent.

"That's not so," Jacobs said.

Instead, he said they have recourse to their local state legislators, including Sen. Mike Fasano and Rep. Robert Schenck.

County Attorney Garth Coller explained at the Oct. 14 meeting that if fire district independence is voted down, all the assets of the fire district stay with that taxing district but would be managed by the county.

Oversight would switch from the five-person elected fire board to the county commissioners.

A "yes" vote would remove oversight authority of the county and instead place it in the hands of the five elected fire commissioners.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

Resident Paul Sullivan expressed concern about the county's authorization of a sub-lease that will allow a cell tower on a portion of Coast Guard auxiliary building property at Hernando Beach, at 4340 Calienta St., off Shoal Line Boulevard.

But commissioners approved the measure.

Hernando Beach residents have complained about poor cellular service for some time.

The Coast Guard would sub-lease a portion of the property to a cell phone tower installer who would erect a tower and rent space to cell phone system vendors.

The Auxiliary will split equally with the Hernando County Utilities Department any lease revenue.

Money that comes from the arrangement would help the Auxiliary to help fund its program of boater safety and emergency communications.

Sullivan said the county should not put profit over the beauty of the beach area.