LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I am writing this letter in response to comments made by Commissioner Rose Rocco in an article written by Hernando Today reporter Tony Holt. In the article, Commissioner Rocco states she is leaning more toward adding to the existing library than voting in favor of a new fire station.

Is Commissioner Rocco not aware that myself or anyone I have talked to, for that matter, has ever seen the library parking lot anywhere even near half full?

Is she also not aware that the area of Spring Hill has to be near 90 percent or more already built out? Not that a library is not important, but how many more people does she think are going to attend this library over the next five years, when the study the county paid $130,000 for stated that's where Spring Hill Fire Rescue needs to place a fire station?

Did Commissioner Rocco even bother to meet with Chief Mike Rampino to discuss issues such as response times to this area before making such ridiculous statements? And is she aware that the area this station would also cover extends to County Line Road and west toward Waterfall?

I have been told that the response times have been increasing to these areas due to more people, construction and traffic lights. After reading that article, I have become increasingly more disturbed with Commissioner Rocco's comments. It is very obvious, contrary to what she says, that she is more concerned about expansion of a library than she is about the safety of the residents of Spring Hill.

I would suggest that Commissioner Rocco review the study that the county paid so much for, and maybe she would see that the fire station next to the library is very much needed and that all the residents of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue district should be protected equally with the same excellent level of service and that a library should not take priority over the safety of this community.

Rachael Rodriguez

Spring Hill