Fire Department News

The Hernando County Fire Rescue presented a preliminary plan for new rates schedule at the BOCC meeting this morning. Commissioners listened to Chief Nickerson's suggestions but no firm decision was made for the next meeting. With 3 rate increase in 5 years, the commissioners should be looking for ways to justify the increases with facts instead of arbitrarily imposing rate increases at the request of chief Nickerson. A clear, concise breakdown of fire call outs need to be separated from EMS calls since they are funded by 2 separate sources which are MSBU & MSTU. Commercial inspections are even classified as a fire call outs because they occasionally use fire trucks to conduct these inspections. Chief Nickerson has historically used the number of call outs to justify his request for the increase in our rates. Only time will tell if new rate structure will be enacted with a suggested meeting in late May or early June.

During the BOCC discussion this afternoon concerning High Point Volunteer Department, Mr. Stabbins stated that the Hernando Beach Volunteer Fire Department should be treated the same as High Point. Nancy Robinson stated she wanted to look at the qualifications of Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department which she said needed to be looked at with the same scrutiny. Mr. Kinsgley spoke in defense of Tri-County stating that they were only first responders with HCFR being the primary source of fire protection for those in the north east portion of our county. My predication of things to come will be a public outcry that will surpass the workshop that took place in 2000 at the fairgrounds that had an attendance of over 800 people when rates began to skyrocket through the roof for county residents. This motion to evaluate all volunteer fire departments has the "makings" of county wide fire service whether we like it, or not, in this county!