[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6537335,"mediaKeyId","3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128","parentId",3626066,"title","Hernando County says it will end ALS funding agreement; county, city and fire chief stress no change in response services","audioSeconds",653,"startMs",1871000,"endMs",2524000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128&start=1871&end=2524","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6537335/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Hernando-County-says-it-will-end-ALS-funding-agreement-county-city-and-fire-chief-stress-no-change-in-response-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537335-1d392e4ebd72db3447a90a419796b060/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094061&Signature=Lr-6~ukp82oOISM6wVLePPklMXd8j4CLT2mbr4W5rGU1bKwqb1iEZhdnxOUYkceKtSsgo5hQolu-oguAAeXSlSRD6FXZr8NfuAfoSicGHVciLBCemuZTf-2H0TcBBTq6TwLtUyfONsSVNXN43MXnKyd97CvP4Wke895pwJHEVt4w7jVMzNllYk8zNQ9qWRKUoz0J~lvoQ3OjcexcyDz58zFYRtaKuC~mpIWfJzFPvV~0FZS2F3mM69gaU4lpVrjAfPRYYFrWA-OYZQlcVWb6V51QjYcqx2HieE4O32BeRTKzqIHzfUil-M~LQew055w3cooPFbxJ9-GJS-7D8QD3Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brooksville","date","2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","article","Hernando County officials told the Brooksville City Council the county intends to terminate a long‑standing agreement that provided annual funding for Brooksville firefighter ALS certification, but county and county fire officials and Brooksville staff repeatedly assured council and residents that ALS response and ambulance transport in the area will not be interrupted.

Jeff Rogers, Hernando County administrator, said the county budgets about $45,000 annually for payments tied to the prior ALS support agreement and that the county has notified the city it intends to end that agreement as part of its budget review: \"this year, the decision is that, this point to send a notification letter that we look to, terminate this agreement,\" Rogers said.

Rogers said the county would reconsider entering an agreement again if the City of Brooksville Fire Department becomes ALS certified: \"if the city of Brooksville fire department becomes ALS certified…we would gladly do an agreement,\" he said, adding the county's budget support is pre‑paid by countywide EMS funding.

Operational clarification from fire chief
Hernando County Fire Chief Paul Hasenmeier emphasized the practical effect for 911 response: \"ALS services as we provide right now are unchanged for city of Brooksville. It's countywide ALS service with our rescues and ambulances, and all that service are will remain unchanged,\" he said. The chief explained engines in the county often carry paramedics and that the county's ambulance transport and rescue apparatus will continue to provide advanced care and transport.

What council asked for and next steps
Council members asked whether terminating the payment would change response times or services; Chief Hasenmeier and Division Chief Chad Coates said Brooksville engines will continue to respond within the scope of their current certifications, and that the county's operations and mutual‑aid protocols would continue. Council members raised personnel and training questions, including precepting and how Brooksville personnel would enter county preceptor programs. Chief Hasenmeier said the county's preceptor and medical director arrangement could accommodate Brooksville candidates but that state licensure and local training programs must be established by the city for some elements.

Funding and training path
Council members and county staff discussed options for Brooksville to pursue BLS or ALS licensure and what that would mean for transport and licensing under the Florida Department of Health EMS rules. Chief Hasenmeier noted the state does not formally recognize a BLS non‑transport service; ALS non‑transport is recognized by state licensure and requires specific program elements and agreements.

Council direction
Council members expressed support for working with the county on training and operational cooperation; one council member said the city should find ways to fund firefighter paramedic training to reach ALS capability within about 18–20 months if feasible, while Chief Hasenmeier reiterated the county's offer to participate in joint training and to include Brooksville in county training programs. No formal council vote occurred on this item; staff and county officials agreed to continue negotiations and technical work to clarify licensing, preceptor lists and operational implications.

Ending
The discussion clarified that, despite the county's notice about discontinuing the ALS funding agreement, county EMS response and transport services to Brooksville remain in place. The city and county said they will continue discussions about training, licensing and potential future agreements if Brooksville achieves ALS certification.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brooksville - City Council Regular Meeting - Jun 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hernando County officials told the Brooksville City Council they plan to end an annual payment tied to an ALS certification support agreement, but county fire leaders and the city said countywide ALS response and transport will continue unchanged.","taxTitle","Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida","taxId",52021,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537339,"Council approves first reading for Springside Crossing rezoning after lengthy public debate",3733,3836000,7569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128&start=3836&end=7569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128/thumbnail_3836000.jpg","/articles/6537339/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Council-approves-first-reading-for-Springside-Crossing-rezoning-after-lengthy-public-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537339-0fb75e4a5d26320c513c8a3b2f5224e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094061&Signature=YDCS1w1gIuLiAGns64VM8OT1VTkDmt7IO7sDI61v6zpq7NMgu2XHY3OkE97s1jBroCOOT9U25JErUlFqwaPLJrxkbGiNDs0W1A~6EhM5fLVtRLj2KfDDPrUREs1FjWXle579yaZPXfzd~HpJ5owd6B~~prb-UbYAvfUW3NpOPtPXIh-Sad1ump5wPbf9JgIC6GgjcXDe~CoZnTrnKPaSEbsZvxdz3hdLkQjYleiEBHgnb9WXU8i2n~RxM0IXJ-HdsPV5hyCk4G0-eUTUFhO7LgYzKZxnyNIl1IkP32ZE5rMGou8C9ICgJuJ4xr7nMgF3nfp63h7Tlatgsjk8JOlXPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brooksville City Council approved on first reading an ordinance (Ordinance No. 984) to rezone roughly 462.3 acres in the Southern Hills/Cascades area into a single planned development, branded by the applicant as \"Springside Crossing,\" after more than three hours of testimony, technical presentation and public comment.

City planning director David Hainley had qualified as an expert witness and staff recommended the rezoning as consistent with the city comprehensive plan; the ordinance passed on first reading by a 4‑1 roll call vote. The rezoning folds a recently annexed 49‑acre tract on U.S. 41 into the remaining phases of the Cascades master plan, lowers the previously requested unit count and adds public‑facing commitments by the developer.

Why it matters: The approved zoning determines what type of housing and infrastructure can be built and where traffic and stormwater impacts will be concentrated. Residents who live along Powell Road and nearby agricultural parcels raised concerns that development could change historical drainage patterns and increase flood risk to properties downstream.

Developer and plan changes
Cliff Manuel of Coastal Engineering, representing the applicant, told the council the project is compatible with existing city approvals dating to the early 2000s and that the developer, a national builder, acquired a 49‑acre tract on U.S. 41 and proposed to combine it with the uncompleted Cascades phases 3 and 4 into one PDD. Manuel said the applicant reduced the proposed total unit count from the original submittal to 888 units, removed a commercial frontage planned earlier, increased buffers and agreed to reserve a roughly 3‑acre parcel on U.S. 41 for up to three years for city consideration as a fire station site.

Manuel also described engineering work and referenced the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and FEMA watershed mapping for the Powell Road watershed, noting that Powell Road is in a basin that SWFWMD and FEMA have previously modeled: \"When SWFWMD came here, they told you that the Powell Road watershed is the only one of the three district watersheds in that area that has been formalized and completed with FEMA,\" Manuel said.

Staff responses and conditions
Community Development Director David Hainley told council staff had worked with the applicant on several changes requested by residents: larger undisturbed buffers, a 50‑foot setback from Powell Road for housing, removal of the originally proposed commercial area adjacent to U.S. 41, and a transportation study at preliminary plat review. Hainley also noted the site plan handed out at the hearing (showing the fire station parcel) should be referenced if council motions to approve.

Public concerns
Dozens of residents testified, with objections focused on drainage and compatibility with surrounding agricultural land. Michael Delohy (19108 Powell Road) described repeated flooding on and near Powell Road and urged the council to stop further impacts: \"You can stop it. We can't keep doing this to the people and flood us and all the other stuff,\" he said. Multiple residents from the Squirrel Prairie/Powell Road area and Hernando Oaks described prior flood events and disputed whether older watershed studies still reflect present conditions after more development.

Applicant replies and commitments
The applicant said construction access would not be from Powell Road and that buffers and berms would be used to manage runoff; Manuel also agreed to reserve the U.S. 41 parcel for a potential fire station and to work with the city on additional mitigation measures such as berming along Powell Road where appropriate.

What the vote did and next steps
Council approved the ordinance on first reading, 4‑1. The council required the record incorporate the updated site plan distributed at the hearing (which shows the fire station parcel). The rezoning will return for second reading and final action; staff and the applicant will prepare conditions and a revised ordinance for that hearing. If the rezoning is adopted at second reading, subsequent development phases will require construction plans, transportation studies and SWFWMD/FEMA compliance for drainage.

Ending note
The council's first‑reading approval moves the Springside Crossing master plan forward while leaving scope for additional technical review and conditions at final hearing and during platting and permitting.

","The Brooksville City Council approved on first reading an ordinance to rezone roughly 462 acres into a single planned development, Springside Crossing, incorporating a newly annexed 49‑acre tract on U.S. 41, after the developer agreed to reduced density, larger buffers and other concessions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537325,"Council reappoints Cliff Manuel to Brooksville Housing Authority",134,1701000,1835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128&start=1701&end=1835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128/thumbnail_1701000.jpg","/articles/6537325/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Council-reappoints-Cliff-Manuel-to-Brooksville-Housing-Authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537325-06e2fce6461a8ed455c8fffb03ce7c26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094061&Signature=ngB9amxL8pmJVA-oyE4qf2PLIcHwrJ1yDe~OYsB39tfWGxRPIaH-k5tMBdtNymHUnyhYA1Op586jp9ZPokhHV3G6~w0SEJ04PtvQF1~v2fUaLGnA120f-bjO-Lh78-AGcHMLmQez4YfzRjnZT94DwjDIZl~PfxNBXmb0me-0noYIGxKsxgjLdlFhFQ57IKJ~wtsofmMCgXFfpdRE3y5B6h6I6jFQCKiUGJ2gPh8t9066x9xfESyemMhptPsbiR3AAQVmJqb4MhmUtociYV29cDe40y~7P5ddAnTXLN-ulFXdCqiev5Z2wxFdO2RXh~RDY6eKpRLBytbEeB-wHAaBog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brooksville City Council reappointed Cliff Manuel to the Brooksville Housing Authority for a four‑year term through June 30, 2029. The nomination drew no competing applications after public notice; council approved the appointment by voice vote.

Manuel, who described ongoing work with Hernando County and the Brooksville Housing Authority on a multi‑year housing project on MLK Drive, thanked council for the reappointment and said he plans to continue advancing the project during the new term.

The reappointment was supported by council and passed without objection. The city clerk will reflect the reappointment in the authority's records and administrative schedule.","The Brooksville City Council unanimously reappointed Cliff Manuel to a four‑year term on the Brooksville Housing Authority through June 30, 2029. Manuel said he plans to continue working on a multi‑year project on MLK Drive.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6537331,"Council offers 60‑day transition to county for Chinsengate retreat center lease after debate",477,7854000,8331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128&start=7854&end=8331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3626066-8b3cd6a9f43d582ddbda8c97059d5128/thumbnail_7854000.jpg","/articles/6537331/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Council-offers-60day-transition-to-county-for-Chinsengate-retreat-center-lease-after-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6537331-444e5c033c1c41dbb3f4738ac44ccdee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094061&Signature=T7uZqKlvKsYXf0b3ps9iQd6Bp9k4Ds7paeRpiVSw10Lq8TbV5UVkRv~AD1sydif0kk4P4BSmJLUA1E3NL4lrX1s7-zDIMq6XQ02kPkzHbrFyM2Ld8D4Qszu51CWtjTPwHTNQy7VHTy5AZwWizFZm9LLdVB3U-SrnEIGzGJN1v~OYPNAmYLP~QgknnC0jCPRPP3bI4dgcgJDgXLbxDm6lzpl1BOYTn7JYG~-CB9hw1UVFJgRMBb4mgmONrhpB5Ce7WuqEZnc8bLD0bX5Pj-u1D6GI1GSMDNMmjskwzScagzojZSiVafVwhI4eNVmq2JvMY8CsvYn6bZfWTx-II-Nvng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Brooksville City Council agreed to give Hernando County a short transition period for management of the Chinsengate retreat center after the county announced it will solicit proposals to operate the property. Council voted 3‑2 to offer a 60‑day extension (or until a new manager is selected) so the county can complete its solicitation and planning.

Background and county action
City Manager and staff reported that at the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners' May 27 meeting the county chose to solicit bids from nonprofits, government entities and private operators to manage the retreat center and reduce ongoing county funding for maintenance. City counsel advised council the existing city management agreement is set to expire on June 30 and that no formal notice is required for that expiration, though the county had raised three options and selected bidding for a new operator.

Council debate and vote
Council members were split between immediately terminating the city's operation when the contract expires or granting a brief extension to allow an orderly transition. One councilor said the city should not extend because of the cost and continuing expense to taxpayers; others argued for acting in good faith and easing the operational handover to avoid service and staffing disruption. After discussion a motion — limited to a 60‑day extension beginning July 1 or sooner if the county secures a new manager — passed 3‑2.

What the extension means
The extension authorizes the city manager to negotiate a short transitional period so the county can solicit proposals and finalize a new operator. If the county secures a replacement operator before the 60 days elapse, the transition would end earlier. The county's solicitation contemplates reduced county funding and seeks partners able to take on the maintenance and ADA upgrades the county cited as outstanding needs.

Ending
Council did not amend the long‑term county decision to solicit bids, but it chose a compromise to help manage staffing, property care and any visitor disruptions during the turnover. The city manager will coordinate transition logistics with county staff.","The Brooksville City Council voted 3‑2 to offer Hernando County a 60‑day transition after the county announced it will solicit bids to operate the Chinsengate (retreat center). Council split over whether to end the city's management now or give a short extension for an orderly transition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hernando County says it will end ALS funding agreement; county, city and fire chief stress no change in response services

Council approves first reading for Springside Crossing rezoning after lengthy public debate

Council reappoints Cliff Manuel to Brooksville Housing Authority

Council offers 60‑day transition to county for Chinsengate retreat center lease after debate