Letters to the Editors

Radios a waste of public funds

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 2001

Editor: Re: Leaders tuning in to firefighters, Feb. 16 Hernando Times:

I am writing to express my displeasure with the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District Commission's decision to buy almost $5,000 in radios, identification badges and vehicle markers (proposed) for the commissioners' use. I see no logic in this and believe the board is wasting public funds.

I am concerned for three reasons.

First, I believe the fire commissioners should never have the capability to interfere with an ongoing fire operation. Badges, vehicle markings and radios give them the capability to take "official" action on the scene, regardless of whether they intend to or not.

Additionally, the commission sets a precedent for others to receive the means to misuse their authority. Let's face it; in a couple years a commission seat will be vacated and a new commissioner will be elected to take it. I hate to think that any elected person (trained or untrained) can roll right up to a fire/rescue scene and past security. He or she can easily place himself or herself in danger, or worse, place others in danger just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If this is not the purpose of the identification, then I say they don't need it.

Second, the fire commission is sanctioned by the residents of Spring Hill, and chartered by the state for policymaking and budgetary oversight. I fail to see how having two-way communications or identification enhances this role. I find no reference under Florida Statute 191 that outlines an expectation for any commissioner to monitor and evaluate fire operations or to be involved in command decisions.

Third, $4,800 for three 800 MHz radios is extremely excessive. Why not review the dispatch tapes of an incident in question rather than tie up all that money on equipment that a commissioner will only monitor for a few minutes per day or week? Take the money and buy new extrication tools or medical equipment. I would rather our professional firefighters have the best equipment available during my time of need, than have a commissioner listening in on a radio.

I am proud of the men and women of the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District. They are well-trained and extremely professional. They do a fine job under the leadership of Chief Michael Morgan and Assistant Chief J.J. Morrison. Let them do their job without the meddling of a micromanaging, elected board. If a policy or budgetary issue is at hand, commissioners, then do your job, but do not mix the two. Otherwise, you will create confusion, distrust and lower morale.

In those cases where mistakes are made, the commission can do best by setting policy that will prevent future mistakes.

I ask the fire commission to reconsider its latest decisions and, if possible, reverse them. I know the commissioners have our best interests in mind, but I believe they would do better by sticking to their elected duties.
-- David A. Casto, Spring Hill

Our water supply needs protecting

Editor: Re: Hernando water hogs will get warnings, Feb. 23 Hernando Times:

County commissioners vote to enforce the ban of garage sale signs on roadways. They want to wait to hear from the Southwest Florida Water Management District before making any decisions about enforcing water restrictions.

I'm sure the group that met to discuss crime in south Brooksville (Residents grill, police, sheriff, Feb. 23 Times) is relieved to know that county commissioners are cracking down on these garage sale sign violators, and that there is still hope of one day of watering the grass for the drug dealers to stand on. Even if one day they won't be able to take a shower and may even have to buy drinking water over the counter instead of turning on their tap. If action isn't taken, these drug dealers may become water dealers when they finally realize how valuable it is.

Swiftmud and Hernando County have taken great strides this past year to open the lines of communication and work together to address our water issues. I don't want to do anything to shut those doors, but I must speak out on recent decisions, or lack thereof.

Legally, Swiftmud does not have the power to enforce the restrictions they put in place. That is left up to each governmental body in every county and city. Our county code enforcement officers think they have waited long enough and should start enforcing the laws. When commissioners discussed this very important issue, they couldn't decide what to do. When Swiftmud decided to place watering restrictions, I thought they were deciding for the county what needed to be done. Now the commissioners want Swiftmud to make a determination for them (again), even though commissioners are responsible for preparing our growth plan and allowing builders to build. Are they not required to take into consideration all our natural resources when planning for growth? Waiting for Swiftmud sounds like passing the buck, or maybe even stalling for a rainy day to wash away this concern.

Before Commissioner Nancy Robinson makes a decision, she wants Swiftmud to give her a better rationale than the fact our neighbors to the south will most likely run out of water, so we need to conserve for them. She wants Swiftmud to make her decisions for her. By placing watering restrictions, Swiftmud has told commissioners what needs to be done; it is ultimately the commissioners' decision how to enforce and when.

There is a vacancy on the Withlacoochee River Basin Board because I, as a member from Hernando County, believe the current process -- with Swiftmud handcuffed and commissioners holding the key to enforcement -- makes the entire process inefficient. My resignation was sent in Jan. 29, any my reasoning was confirmed by our county commissioners' inaction Feb. 22. This issue was brought to the governor's attention for consideration of new legislation to be passed in the next legislative session. Until legislation is passed, the makeup of the boards will remain the same.

When I sent my resignation to Gov. Jeb Bush, it was sent with a report prepared by a Hillsborough Basin Board member showing several ways to revise and/or eliminate staff and boards to reduce budget expenses and be able to allocate more funding for alternative water resources. By resigning, I hoped to force the issue to the forefront and make everyone aware of decisions being made, or not made, to benefit programs for water conservation and alternative water sources in our state.

Commissioners need to understand they have the power to do something before it is too late and protect our water resources. They need to take action now. No one should have to worry about sitting next to someone who hasn't taken a bath in weeks, or have to listen to the sound of rising medical expenses and medical teams arriving at the homes of the elderly suffering from dehydration.

Living in Florida and being surrounded by water, I can understand the false sense of security that we have plenty of water. Laugh, like County Administrator Paul McIntosh, who believes that even though we are several feet below the normal level in our aquifer, we have nothing to worry about. I wonder if he knows something the water district doesn't, and if his grass is green. Without enforcement of regulations by the commissioners, it's no wonder it would make him laugh.

If commissioners don't take action, these drought conditions continue and our neighbors to the south run out of water before us, then Mother Nature or the Drought Fairy could find our aquifer and make it disappear, and we will all fall into a big sinkhole. Everyone knows we have had our fair share of sinkholes in this county.

But there is no need to fear because the commissioners have made sure it will be safe; we won't have to worry about garage sale signs falling in on us.
-- Karen L. Kraatz, Brooksville

New lane needed at Taco Bell

Editor: Has anyone else wondered why the Taco Bell at Mariner Boulevard and Spring Hill Drive does not have another lane next to the drive-through?

Any number of things could happen to somebody waiting in that line for their food. Suppose you were between cars, had an emergency and needed to leave quickly? I'm just waiting for the first lawsuit against Hernando County and Taco Bell for allowing this ridiculous design.

Even the employees working there told me that on numerous occasions they have had to push cars through because they became overheated. What is it going to take to have this fixed? A million-dollar lawsuit?
-- M.R. Chase, Spring Hill

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