Letters to the Editors

Nothing to fix in Spring Hill Fire Rescue

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 23, 2001

Editor: Relax, the sky is not falling.

The May 13 Times editorial, Labor talks undermine faith in commission, implied the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District Commission has outlived its usefulness and the department should be absorbed by the Hernando County Fire Department, in the best interest of its residents, of course.

I wholeheartedly disagree. As the chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners for Spring Hill, I cannot allow the opinions contained in the editorial to shape the future of this district without a rebuttal.

Spring Hill Fire Rescue has been referred to by some of its residents as their "sacred cow." After reading the editorial, it sounds to me as if our cow is being led down a back alley to slaughter.

Our residents know that our response times are excellent, our personnel well trained and courteous and our equipment is state of the art. So, why are you suggesting that the county commissioners fix (or do away with) something that is clearly not broken?

The editorial alleges we are abusing the Florida Sunshine Law when we meet behind closed doors to discuss negotiating strategies relevant to our union's contract. This is just not so. The executive session's content is directly related to how we are going to fairly compensate our employees, continue to provide our residents with first-rate service and accomplish this without raising taxes. Pretty sneaky stuff, wouldn't you agree?

I will agree that the "legal work" performed for the board (and associated fees) was premature, but I can assure taxpayers the information gathered is something that is necessary for the ongoing negotiations to steer the district clear of possible litigation. We would have requested this information regardless of which course of action we chose.

As for the brush truck issue, our fire chief, during a regularly scheduled meeting, conducted a very compelling presentation where he adequately justified our need for the truck. When asked if this qualified as an emergency purchase and if we authorized to make the expenditure, he assured us he checked into it and it was authorized. Had the board not accepted the professional recommendation of our chief and delayed the purchase, we would have been accused of micro-managing.

Our chief is in the process of reviewing our past years' purchases to see if we can be reimbursed for past purchases that may qualify for reimbursements through impact fees.

In closing, I hope this is the last time I have to address the radio issue. The portable "fancy" radios were purchased as back-up radios for the district, with the provision that the commissioners may sign them out when they are not in use. This allows the commissioners first-hand knowledge of how our resources are being utilized by monitoring the fire frequencies. God forbid we take an active interest in knowing what goes on in the community that we took an oath of office to serve and protect.
-- Bob Kanner, chairman, Spring Hill Fire Rescue District

Take look at schools, not fire district, for problems

Editor: Re: Labor talks undermine faith in commission, May 13 Times editorial:

Your rather scathing and inappropriate editorial regarding the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District Commission left me shaking my head. Your exact motive for printing this article, filled with slanted opinions and half truths, must be addressed.

I understand the editorial page is reserved for someone's opinion, but you went much further by stating your perceived public opinion regarding this matter. Are you basing your opinion on facts, or is this a personal attack on the fire commission?

The Times, as a newspaper serving our community, is focusing attention on a perceived problem. If you really want to champion a cause and something that needs your full attention, please turn to our superintendent and School Board, if you want to help our community.

You speak of financial gaffes in the fire commission, which to me are nothing compared with the accounting and budgeting fiasco going on by Superintendent John Sanders and his administration.

Our children are faced with tremendous overcrowding, permanent substitute teachers, not enough books and supplies, and it will only get worse until you, as a newspaper and we as a community, address this serious and important issue. Until we do, our children and our community will suffer.
Alan Setelius, Spring Hill

Everyone pays a fair share; forget tax cuts for seniors

Editor: Re: Tax cuts for seniors:

Our commissioners must have lost touch with reality.

Am I expected to believe anything these folks have to say regarding a special tax break for seniors, with all the problems we have getting roads repaired under budget, getting school budgets and health costs under control, and myriad other little things going on in this county?

As far as I am concerned, none of them have much credibility in any sort of effort dealing in taxes or cost accounting.

Stop trying to turn Hernando into a socialist county, will you? The redistribution-of-wealth shell game in this country (and this county) is getting a bit old. I am not in this taxpaying business to be "nice" and give certain people special breaks. We all must pay our fair share.

That then brings up the old idea that this $25,000 exemption should be on the "second" $25,000 of a house's value. Then it truly becomes more fair, as everyone will pay toward the maintenance and upkeep of this county, plus lower the tax bill for those who currently pay.
-- Vilmar Tavares, Spring Hill

If you don't like Wal-Mart plan, let people know

Editor: Re: Let your voice be heard on Wal-Mart proposal, May 11 guest column by Linda Prescott:

Linda Prescott's guest column stuck a pin in my consciousness, so I called the real estate section representative of Wal-Mart (in Arkansas), gave her all my reasons for not wanting their huge store to be built at Spring Hill Drive and U.S. 19, called the county commissioners, and tried to e-mail my representative. (That address was rejected.)

So, I am left with this last alternative: Telling the newspaper this is most unfair.

When we moved here 19 years ago, I looked toward progress. I was thrilled when street lights went in, when we didn't have to ride to Brooksville or Port Richey to see a movie, when we could go to a local restaurant. Progress.

But land rape is something else again, and that is what is happening in Hernando County, to the point our water level has dropped to dangerous levels and continues to drop as newer developments come in.

When is the resident who has been here a while, has paid his or her dues, followed the laws and donated time and energy to one local organization and another, going to truly have a voice in what happens?

It's sad to look around and see buildings lying fallow and unused, closed up and rotting away, and trees and open land no longer there. That's not progress; that's land rape.
-- Polly Levine, Spring Hill

Water lobbying should be done with public in mind

Editor: My wife and I would like to thank Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, for her efforts involving the development and passage of House Bill 41, which provides a change in the rate recovery period for water wastewater services of our supplier, Florida Water Services, and for legal service by OPC for public support in future rate increase requests, which will be of great benefit to us and other communities involved.

We also would like to thank her for her specific action with lobbyist Jodi Chase of Associated Industries of Florida. As citizens, we know lobbyists continue to call the shots on a great amount of legislation and that the public good frequently is of little concern.

Yet both the legislators and lobbyists fail to recognize it is the public, through its support of industry, that permits industry to hire and support lobbyists who flout the public good.

House Speaker Tom Feeney's attempt to make points with Associated Industries of Florida has diminished his standing and brought public concern to those associated with Associated Industries of Florida.
-- George & Frances Harbin, Homosassa

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