Doesn't make sense

Why is Commission David Russell pushing for the county administration to move to the old Brooksville Regional hospital location? Yes, it was said for more judicial space but wouldn't this be poor management on the county's part? The commissioner's sold this hospital location a few months ago for $1.2 million and now want to burn up tax money on lease payments to the new owners. It just doesn't make sense to throw away more money for the lease of county government office space. Shouldn't we have a solid Facilities Master Plan, approved and budgeted for, before anymore rash decisions are made by this commission?

Remarkably silent...

Yesterday, the Hernando Today ran their last article on waste in Hernando County government. Whether you liked their reporting, or not, it must be said that the Hernando Today gave everyone the opportunity to voice an opinion on this year's negotiations of the local county government budget. Yesterday's article included comments from 4 0f the 5 Hernando County Commissioners while a rebuttal from the county administrator,Gary Kuhl was printed in last week's edition.

Pro and Con letters about county government spending have consumed on the Hernando Today's editorial pages for weeks. I have made my comments on this format, as have others in our community on the local talk radio and at the podium of the county commission meetings. The one voice that has been remarkably silent on the budget issues is that of Hernando County County Commission Chairman Jeff Stabins and it has left a deafening roar throughout our county, with many of us questioning why we call this representative government.

Comments

Please be advised that I have turned on the comments portion of this blog again. I welcome all comments, pro & con, but have enabled the "moderate comments" to filter out profanity/vulgar language.

Where's the equity?

If anyone remembers the elderly lady in the Wendy's commercials saying, "Where's the Beef" then they will understand the question, "Where's the equity" when it comes to taxation in Hernando County? The Hernando County Commissioners grilled Sheriff Rich Nugent for deeper cuts for his budget, along with the rest of the constitutional officers on Wednesday. None of county commissioners bothered to check but the sheriff's department proposed budget is within the 3% allowable margin set by Governor Charlie Crist. It is unfortunate that the county commissioners were not as fiscally prudent on Tuesday when they voted to approve a 25% increase for the Chief Nickerson of Hernando County Fire Rescue District. Let's face it, the approved fee increase to HCFR far exceeds the limits set by Governor Crist. "Where's the equity, commissioners?"

Annie Williams, Supervisor of Elections is requesting a 20.32% increase in her budget to cover costs. Why? Didn't she save enough over the last five years when the county was flush with tax money to build up her reserves in a capital equipment account to run her department efficiently? "Where's the equity in this request, commissioners?"

During the public hearing for rate increase of Hernando County Fire Rescue, Commissioner David Russell stated that they (commissioners) would look really hard at recouping this $38.00 fee increase, with reductions elsewhere in the budget when he made his motion to approve their request. Does any recall Mr. Russell specifically asking the county administrator at the Wednesday budget workshop for this savings which would equate to approximately 0.40 mil (over their state mandated tax reductions) to compensate for this 25% fire fee increase to the taxpayers? "Where's the equity here, commissioners?"

Commissioner Kingsley was quoted in the Hernando Times this morning as saying, "Even a small increase is not the same as a budget cut which is not what the board requested" as he questioned the tax collector about her budget. Juanita Sikes is the only constitutional officer that has consistently returned money to the county coffers. "Where's the equity here, commissioners?"

Commissioner Rowden was empathetic when she stated on Tuesday that Spring Hill Fire Rescue charges a much lower rate than Hernando County fire Rescue when compared equally under a milage rate structure. Ms. Rowden had asked the budget director to run the figures and she stated that in comparison, SHFR charges 2.32 mil, with HCFR charging 2.65 mil. Incidentally, Chief J.J. Morrison needs to be commended for reducing their milage to this historic 2.32 mil in his proposed budget. Mind you, this 2.65 mil for HCFR does not even include the 25% fee increase just approved by the commissioners on Tuesday. "Where's the equity here, commissioners?"

Too bad the elderly lady for Wendy's isn't around now or she would be screaming, "Where's the Beef, commissioners?"

6oth reunion of Weeki Wachee

If you are looking for some family fun this weekend, check out the 60th Reunion of Weeki Wachee Springs for the mermaid reunion. Mayor Robyn Anderson, and her staff, have an action-packed weekend planned for this gala event. For the first time in the water park's history, the returning mermaids will swim with the current staff for an underwater spectacular. Thanks Mayor Robyn, Jon, and the entire staff at Weeki Wachee Springs. Each of you have put the "home" in hometown fun for our community for years and we really appreciate it!

Stand-up kind of guy

Hernando County Sheriff Rich Nugent deserves an attaboy for standing up to the county commissioners at yesterday's budget workshop. The sheriff was asked by Commissioner Kingsley if he had started to plan for the 2008-09 budget. Sheriff Nugent bluntly said no and he had no intention to plan a year out in time because it was totally unrealistic in an uncertain economic climate. Although I do not agree with the additional money in this year's sheriff's budget, Rich Nugent was a stand-up kind of guy by holding his ground with the county commissioners to state he was not participating in this biannual budget process initially promoted by Chris Kingsley. By the way, this two year budget cycle was formulated for major discussion to take place in 0ff-election years which would work to the advantage of all incumbent county commissioners.

Goverment salaries

Last Sunday, the Hernando Today listed the salaries of the top officials in Hernando County Government. Just so you get a sense of the Mercer Study comparisons, it should be noted that Hernando County Administrator is paid just $624.00 less than Governor Charlie Crist of Florida. Charlie Crist is paid $132,932 while Gary Kuhl is paid an annual salary of $132,308.00. An economist was also quoted in this paper as saying, "the only way to gauge employee and manager wages of government employees is with another government agency". I didn't know that we needed to compare out county administrator's salary to that of our governor in these Mercer Studies...

Dog & Pony show

Below is an email that I just sent to the Hernando County Commissioners in reference to the 25% increase this year for Hernando county Fire Rescue. Incidentally, they voted 5-0 to approve this rate increase by HCFR, including the annual 5.5% increases every year there after without any oversight by the Hernando County Commissioners. So much for waiting for the consultant's report to analyze the best method to provide countywide fire service. Maybe we should ask the consultant for a refund of his $100,000 fee since the county commissioners did not wait for the final report. This sort of reminds me of the consultant the commisssioners hired to study the old Brooksville hospital. The commissioners could not wait for that report, either, and virtually gave away 10+ acres of prime real estate in downtown Brooksville for a pittance...I hate to say I told you so but it looks like the Hernando County Commissioners are playing a shell game, saying they will lower our taxes. It looks like any real reductions we may have seen will be offset by "fees, fees, fees"...

Commissioners-
While I do not want to stop the voice of the HCFR employees, I find this "stacking of the deck" at this public hearing by fireman an insult to the public. We pay their fees & paychecks...Big ones, I may add:

Hernando County Fire Rescue's beginning salary for firefighters is over $3,000.00 higher that the starting salaries in Citrus County, Polk County, Pasco County and Port Richey. In fact, HCFR is just $1,500.00 less that the starting salary of firefighters in the City of Tampa, complements of the Mercer study.

HCFR has not accounted for the 12 surplus vehicles...

5.5% automatic inflationary rate every year without oversight by the taxpayers. When did the inflationary rate for citizens on fixed incomes exceed 3%?

How do you explain the 12 under-used vehicles, a $92k salary for the chief who has no degree, a 22 minute average response in Nobleton? BTW, our first responders in Nobleton are Tri-County Volunteer Fire. We subsidize HCFR as a second response unit.


HCFR fire service $194.00
HCFR EMS $59.00
Dog & Pony show by HCFR -Priceless

What happened to us waiting for the countywide study currently being done by the $100,000 paid consultant?????


Sincerely-
Anna Liisa Covell
Nobleton, Florida

Lightning...

While heading out this morning to the shooting range at the Hernando Sportsman Club, we were met with a roadblock just west of US 19 North by the Hernando County Sheriff's Department. Lightning had hit the area last night and caught the wooded area on fire which burned a power pole off at it's base leaving live wires on the ground. Thanks to the efforts of the lineman of Withlacoochee River Electric, a new power pole was installed within several hours. The Hernando County Fire Rescue and the Department of Forestry also need to be commended for putting out this brush fire before it was out of control.

Looks a little fishy...

After reading both local newspapers this morning, I am a little confused about the way Spring Hill Fire Rescue charges for their services. It states in the Hernando Times that the Spring Hill Fire Rescue is based on an MSBU. A MSBU, municipal service benefit unit, is based on a set fee which appears on the non-ad valorem portion of the property tax bill. Or is SPFR on a MSTU which is a municipal service taxing unit based on set millage rate which appears on the ad-valorem portion of the property tax bill? I was under the assumption that Spring Hill Fire Rescue was a MSTU. Which one is it? Was the newspaper incorrect or is the attorney for the clerk of court confused about the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District? Or is it just me?

Derrill McAteer, attorney for the Hernando County Clerk of Court, stated that he had been contacted by Jon Jouban, assistant county attorney, about a discovery that the MSBU for Spring Hill Fire Rescue District had been dissolved in "1993 or 1994". Which is it, 1993 or 1994? If this is an actual record from Karen Nicolai's office it would have a specific date on the document, wouldn't it? If it was a court document, it would also have a time the hearing took place included in the document. What day was it?

Garth Coller stated in the same article that the matter was still "deep in litigation" and would not get specific about how Mr. Jouban discovered the SPFR's dissolved status. Wouldn't these documents be matter of public records if they were discovered in the files the Clerk of Court since Karen Nicolai is the official "keeper" of all records for Hernando County? Why did it take Mr. Jouban so long to notify the Clerk of Court's attorney about the discovery he made earlier in the month?

Mr. McAteer stated in the newspaper that this situation about the Spring Hill Fire Rescue is very bizarre? Bizarre is an understatement with all these unanswered questions. Is it a MSBU or MSTU for Spring Hill Fire Rescue? What is the actual date of this "discovery" document? Is it a public record? If so, why did the assistant county attorney wait for weeks to reveal his "discovery" document? If this is an accurate record, then why wasn't it brought forward earlier by the Clerk of Court?

This really looks a little fishy, in light of the fact that Commissioner David Russell recently advocated dissolving the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District board by a proposed county ordinance he pushed to the table. Is this the beginning of the end of Spring Hill Fire Rescue District to implement a countywide fire service by the county commissioners?

The upcoming discussions by Hernando County County Commissioners, and their ability to provide adequate fire service for the public, looks like it will be a real "Whodunit" type of mystery... Too bad we can't read the last chapter first in this mystery to reveal the "top secret discovery documents" that supposedly dissolves the SPFR. Maybe then we would find out who is really driving this fire engine...

Sweet deal

A column in yesterday's edition of the Hernando Today carried a story about the Brooksville Housing Authority's Interim Director, Ronnie McLean, considering Jay Rowden, the Democratic Executive Committee Chairman as his first pick for a community coordinator position. If Jay Rowden is hired, it could turn out to be a real sweet deal for his wife Diane who is up for re-election for county commission. What a great way to gain face time for his wife, the county commissioner, in the area known as "the sub" while he is working with the residents that live in HUD housing?

Fair tax discussion...

There has been considerable hullabaloo about the possibility of enacting "Fair Tax" for our country. National radio talk show hosts are advocating it, along with our own hometown talk guru on the local AM station. A handful of individuals in our community who are quietly being backed by members of HCREC are pushing for passage of H.R. 25, Section 101(b)(1) which states the rate of tax is 23 percent of the gross payments for the taxable property or service.” Please note the phrase “of the gross payment” and not the actual inclusive rate.

Last August, Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite hosted a Small Business Advisory Council meeting at the Jerome Brown Center in Brooksville. Guest speakers for this meeting were Bob Carroll, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, United States Treasury and Tom Wright, Executive Director for Americans for Fair Tax. A large number of individuals and business owners were invited to attend this informational forum, including our local talk show host. I was privileged to attend this event and came away with some very interesting information on the pros and cons of the Fair Tax. I might add that the local talk show host did not attend this meeting.

So far the discussion locally on the Fair Tax has been one-sided with those having questions being drummed down by the local roar of the radio show audience, driven by their host. Even though the talk show host advertised their event last Saturday as being open to everyone, pro or con, that concept fell on death ears after he attacked Mayor Rudy Guilliani on the air for having doubts about the Fair Tax.

Do we need open, honest, debate about the IRS and the way we are currently taxed in this country? You bet we do but the debate needs to be balanced on both sides to insure this is the right approach for our future. For example, these are a few of the things that the local discussion has not included in their push for their Fair Tax legislation:

• Here's how it works: You buy a candy bar for a total price, including tax, of $1.30. One dollar of that price pays for the candy bar, $.30 goes to the federal government.
  One dollar purchase + $.30 in tax sounds like 30 percent to you and me (and to every state that currently has a sales tax). But the “Fair Taxers” don't calculate it that way. They say: $1.30 total price. $.30 = 23 percent of $1.30, therefore the tax is 23 percent.
• The 23 percent number in H.R. 25 is the equivalent of the 4.8 percent. To calculate the real rate of the sales tax, determine the original purchase price of an item. Begin with a $100 item, keeping in mind that a price tag that reads $100 has sales tax already built in. If our tax rate is 23 percent of the tax-inclusive sales price, then of the $100 final price, $23 of those dollars will be for taxes, meaning that the original pre-tax price of the item is $77. To get $23 in taxes on a $77 item, one must impose a 30 percent tax. In other words, a 23 percent sales tax on the tax-inclusive sales price is equivalent to a 30 percent tax on the actual price of the item.
• With the Fair Tax's 100 percent base, consumers would pay taxes on a great many things that may not intuitively seem like consumption. The list would include:
  **Purchases of new homes
  **Rent
  **Interest on credit cards, mortgages and car loans
  **Doctor bills
  **Utilities
  **Gasoline (30 percent in addition to current taxes, which would not be repealed)
  **Legal fees
  (At today's prices, gasoline would cost almost $1 per gallon more. A $150,000 new home would run $195,000 – plus the 30 percent tax that the buyer would pay on the interest on the mortgage. In short, the Fair Tax taxes everything that one buys, with the one notable exception of education).
• Fair Tax advocate state that you can regulate how much tax you pay with their system, by choosing to buy new items that are taxed, or used items which are not taxed which would have a dramatic effect on our economy.

The information listed above is only the tip of the iceberg for the concerns those the opposing of the Fair Tax issue. For a starting point to look at this Fair Tax issue realistically, try logging onto this link: http://www.factcheck.org/

Congresswoman Ginny Brown Waite has consistently stated that she is willing to listen to both sides of the debate without passing judgement on HB 25. Our congresswoman has stated on local talk radio her desire to wait until Congress holds hearings on the Fair Tax where both sides of the debate are heard by the public. Unfortunately, Ginny Brown-Waite has been unfairly criticized by the local talk show host, along with his army of callers that support this Fair Tax issue. Some very familiar voices of the local republican party have also been heard on this program voicing their discontent with Congresswoman Brown-Waite, or her assistants, for not attending last Saturday's Fair Tax Rally. I can't say as I blame Ginny Brown-Waite for not attending this event because she would have become the target of their debate.

***Some of the information listed above was obtained from Factcheck.org

OSHA to sharpen pencils

Safari Club International (SCI) just sent out an update about the proposed OSHA regulations regarding ammunition being listed for "explosives safety". After a barrage of emails from gun owners, gun shops owners, retailers and legislators, OSHA has decided to sharpen their pencils and go back to work on this issue. The July 17 Federal Register will include a notice from the Labor Department announcing a new rule will be drafted for public comment. I will keep you posted...

Dept. of Veterans Affairs resigns...

I received this press release a few minutes ago from the office of Congresswoman Ginny Brown Waite. This may of interest to all the veterans in our community:

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-05) today released the following statement regarding the resignation announcement of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson. Rep. Brown-Waite is the Ranking member on the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and represents the second highest number of veterans of any Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Secretary Nicholson has a long and distinguished history of service to our nation, beginning with his time in Vietnam, and culminating with his tenure at the VA. He led the VA with honor and distinction during his two plus years at the Department. While Secretary Nicholson’s legacy will include significant advances in health care services for veterans, it will also be diminished by the serious lapses in information security and the dangerous budget projection shortfalls that took place during his tenure. I would like to thank the Secretary for his service to our veterans and wish him luck as he moves into the next stage in his career. I trust that President Bush will conduct a thoughtful search for the next Secretary, someone who will continue to carry forward the mission of service to American veterans and work in a bi-partisan fashion to ensure they receive the benefits and care they deserve.”

Bring it on...

Several years ago, Commissioner Stabins wrote to the newspaper and used the quote, "Bring it On!" I don't remember what topic of his editorial rebuttal was but that slogan could have been used again this morning on Judge Merritt. I'm referring to the article in the Hernando Times about Chief Circuit Judge Daniel Merritt ordering Hernando judges to recuse themselves from hearing civil cases involving our county.

Judge Merritt said his order was not meant to put pressure on the county commissioners to provide funding for new judicial space but did not give any reason for imposing the order in the first place. This sure appears to be a tactic to force our county commissioners to spend money they do not have on a new judicial complex. In this era of tax reduction for the citizens, imposed by the Florida Legislature, everyone in local government needs to hold the line when it comes to the budget including Judge Merritt.

Commissioner Stabins was quoted in this morning's article as saying, "If the judges want to order us to put a new tax on the ballot for them, I'd be more than happy to let the voters decide if they want to pay for the new judicial complex." I will say it for Mr. Stabins, "Bring it on!" Let the voters decide by referendum if we want to a new multi-million dollar judicial center and place it on the Presidential Preference Ballot right next to the one by the Florida Legislature that will provide for the largest tax cut in this state's history!

The entire state of Florida is undergoing a process of tax reduction to the citizens, including here at home in Hernando County. Judge Merritt needs to just suck it up, so to speak, like everyone else is in government. His order to have Hernando judges recuse themselves from all cases involving the county appears to read like the classic Webster definition of misfeasance: the doing of a lawful act in an improper manner so that there is an infringement on the rights of another or others. If it isn't misfeasance, it is a complete failure to do what his duties require to be done equating to nonfeasance.

Hernando County Commission Chairman, Jeff Stabins needs to be commended for standing up to these type transparent intimidation tactics being used by our local judges!

Back door method

Yesterday, I received my weekly newsletter from Safari Club International, Inc. This newsletter is always jammed packed with national and international news related to hunting and firearms. In this issue was a link to the National Rifle Association asking for help in stopping OSHA from passing rules that will all but eliminate the use of firearms in our country. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed new rules that would have a dramatic effect on the storage and transportation of ammunition and hand loading components such as primers or black and smokeless powder.

This new OSHA regulation appears to be a back door method to eliminate our rights under the Second Amendment of our Constitution. If ammunition is not available at your local gun dealer then having a gun is virtually worthless except to use as a paper weight. If you are interested in voicing your opinion before July 12, 2007, here is the link :

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3145

National level

Yesterday, I received an interesting survey in the mail from The Heritage Foundation. This survey was titled, Tax Increase Impact Survey. This survey is based at the national level to address tax increases looming in the near future for all of us. Lately the focus on tax reduction has been aimed at our county and state officials, rightfully so, but I thought you might need a break to read what's on tap at the national level. Here are a few of the impacts listed in the Heritage Foundation's newsletter:

• $2.4 Trillion: The overall tax increase faced by American families, seniors and business if President Bush's tax cuts expire.
• $1,716: The average tax increase for over 100 million Americans if tax cuts are allowed to expire.
• $2,034: The average tax increase that will hit 17 million seniors in President Bush's tax cuts expire.
• 6.24 Million: The number of jobs that will be created over the next decade by making President Bush's tax cuts permanent.
• $69 Billion: The cost of reinstating the death tax.
• $29 Billion: The amount spent in 2006 by Congress on frivolous "pork" projects that use taxpayers funds to reward local special interest and pressure groups.
• 44 Million: The number of married couples affected by the Marriage Penalty before it was reduced by President Bush. These families will be hit hard once again if the marriage Penalty is reinstated.
• $1,480: The average cost in 2000 for couples punished by the Marriage Penalty.

The Heritage Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation looking out for the American taxpayers. You may want to check out their website which is: MyHeritage.org

"Fees, Fees, Fees" has become synonymous with "increases, increases, increases" when it comes to local government. The 74% increase in the Hernando County General Fund budget does not seem to be enough for local officials pocketbook because we are now being faced with another increase in our fire rates for the Hernando County Fire Rescue service. This does not even take into consideration the 34% increase in our garbage rates that just took effect at the blessing our our county commissioners.

Hernando County Commissioners, past and present, have never scrutinized the budget expenditures made by the administration of the HCFR to the degree necessary to be good stewards of our tax money. How could they? Our fire rates increased 77% since 2001 with nary a blink of the eye by our local officials. HCFR is even asking that an annual inflationary rate increase of 5.5% be included in this request so they do not have to come back to ask for our tax money again. The annual inflationary rate for senior citizens has never come close to 5.5%.

Last year during budget discussions, Chief Nickerson was asked by the public why he had so many vehicles parked outside the various fire stations and the county commissioners did not even investigate the issue when they raised our rates last year. It is interesting to note that highest number of under-used vehicles in the county was attributed to the Hernando County Fire Rescue District. These under-used vehicles by the HCFR totaled 12 in all and ranged from tankers, to trucks, to sport utility vehicles and other related equipment. By the way, this information was available in an outside audit conducted in 2005, at taxpayer expense. All the county commissioners had to do in 2005 was read the audit to see the taxpayers have not been crying wolf.

As for the 34% increase in garbage rates, the county commissioners took away our freedom of choice in the free market to choose our garbage haulers in 2001. Even though it is not mandatory in the rural areas for garbage pick-up,we have no choice of haulers to choose from in the open market. No competitive bidding for private consumers exists because we are forced to use the companies chosen for us by the county commissioners, at structured rates for our service. It amazes me how local government can create a monopoly in the garbage industry without violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The term collusion seems to be only reserved for private industry since the local government finds nothing wrong in setting prices for local private garbage services and creating a private monopoly the citizens are forced to use for garbage services

With all these fee, fees, fees, please do not forget that our Emergency Medical Services will increase again this year by another 3%. This 3% annual increase was built into the county ordinance when it was approved in 2002. If you are keeping track of these fees, fees, fees, it should be noted that our EMS fees have increased 21% since the enactment of this MSTU.

The Hernando County motto on budgetary matters should be "Keep your eye on our right hand so you won't know what our other hand it doing". What part of tax relief don't the county commissions fathom...

In closing, I will leave you with this quote from President Ronald Reagan, "Balancing the budget is a little like protecting your virtue: You just have to learn to say no".

***

Have a safe, enjoyable, Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday, America!

Overly abrasive

Over the last several weeks, the Hernando Today has published some very blunt articles about the budget crisis in Hernando County government. Is this budget information necessary for public opinion? Yes it is, but the Hernando Today staff has gone over board with their comments about county employees in the process. In my opinion, the Hernando Today has been overly abrasive in their language with their coverage of this budget issue.

Take a look at the headline in this morning's edition of Hernando Today and judge for yourself. It reads, "Layoffs begin; county dumps 5 workers". Even though layoffs are inevitable in any organization facing a budget crisis, these 5 workers are living, breathing, human beings that have families to support in our community. This headline underscored the glee of the staff writer, with the approval of the editorial board, to allow this crude headline. Yes, lay-offs are necessary but to say the county "dumps" 5 workers is very tasteless for this paper.

In my opinion, the Hernando Times coverage of this budget crisis has far surpassed that of its competitor, the Hernando Today. The Hernando Times articles have included hard facts, without the accusatory tone of the other local newspaper. The opinions in the Hernando Times on this budget crisis have been voiced in the proper perspective in their editorial columns, not in the foundation of the their articles.

Search for new police chief...

The headline reads, "City to begin search for new police chief" with the new city manager, Jennene Norman-Vacha, planning to form a selection committee. This selection committee will include Interium Chief Frank Ross, Sheriff Rich Nugent, along with input from local citizens. With this selection committee, officials will review the job requirements and then begin advertising with the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

Interim Chief Ross stated that one of the applicants could come from within the department. The logical choice would be Lt. Rick Hankins who has given his heart and soul to the Brooksville Police Department but that appears to be uncertain at this time. Lt. Hankins is waiting for the final version of the job requirements before making a decision to apply for this position.

It appears that Interim Chief Ross has already jumped the gun, so-to-speak, in the search for the new chief of police for the city of Brooksville. Mr. Ross has already taken the liberty of having lunch with a few of the interested candidates, even though the city manager just gave the go-ahead to advertise the position at Monday night's city council meeting. These interviews of prospective candidates by the Interim Chief Ross appear to defeat the very purpose of the selection committee currently being formed by the city manager. How can Mr. Ross serve on this selection committee, with an unbiased opinion, when he has already involved himself outside the purview of other prospective (committee) members? Is this selection committee being formed by Jennene Norman-Vacha merely facade to imitate a fair selection process of the next chief of police for the city of Brooksville?