[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6500364,"mediaKeyId","5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03","parentId",5489734,"title","Brooksville and Hernando fire chiefs present competing plans; council requests joint meeting with county commissioners","audioSeconds",982,"startMs",6667250,"endMs",7650000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03&start=6667&end=7650","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03/thumbnail_6667250.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500364/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-and-Hernando-fire-chiefs-present-competing-plans-council-requests-joint-meeting-with-county-commissioners","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500364-fea10457b4884f7bf052c79ae9ddaa22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496384&Signature=eeqC2dAoY2Wzz5-z7pCMphawpFv2~q38ty3AESuPWbIYiVP94kAa5mD6ltpDMJP~zshROEkewmpsZHTt4sZb1mR9R-Utd6jjkea3ga~CMpxlcoV7r8OTiSmgbb9V6u7yvO-M6lYTSJ0Dez6EdgRMCtmN8a5rDDNH9ulsJfKm0S0ux84x4L3TkfVQRV00uUibgew5bHqMJbXIhh1-Kc4~1rJQAyEY1ObHmF3JpF54ziAWpKsMgFGMLnEOB88d3anWv0ggnrW439hARH~~lLtZw~EUM0bRLR3ftEnDJUPWWKAaRvQj8PDg98aYeoAB6HTqZhY4WKOnIGceZp9NvzfXRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brooksville","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","Hernando County Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer and Deputy County Administrator Tony Brady presented a model for county provision of fire protection and advanced life support to the City of Brooksville, including a projected FY2026 service cost of roughly $1.4 million and assurances that county crews would provide ALS response day one if consolidation occurred. Brooksville District Chief Nicholas Alaimo and interim City Fire leadership outlined a plan to maintain independent city fire services, citing local control, lower current assessment fees and a multi-year vision to expand to three stations within the city.

At the conclusion of both presentations, council members debated consolidation versus continued municipal service. Hernando County officials described contract timing and a county MSBU (municipal service taxing unit) for EMS that residents already pay (0.91 mills) and said the county could begin service as soon as Oct. 1 if both parties agreed and legal terms were negotiated. Brooksville fire leadership emphasized local responsiveness, historic ties and an alternate approach based on increasing city fire assessment and future EMS billing revenue that could support expanded services over time.

Council voted unanimously, 5-0, to request a joint interlocal meeting with the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners to discuss fire service options, lease or purchase terms for fire facilities, personnel transitions and costs; staff and the county deputy administrator will coordinate meeting dates. City staff also noted written notices from the county regarding termination or amendment of some existing interlocal ALS and fire-protection agreements and said the topic needs prompt intergovernmental discussion to avoid service gaps.

Council emphasized the priority of public safety while asking that negotiations address employee transitions, station usage (sale vs. lease), pension and years-of-service protections, and procedural timelines. The council set a timeline for the joint meeting to be scheduled in August so that, if both bodies chose to proceed quickly, operational changes could be considered for implementation in October 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brooksville - City Council Special Meeting July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hernando County and Brooksville fire leadership presented different models for fire and EMS service. Council requested a joint interlocal meeting with the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners to discuss options and next steps; the request passed unanimously.","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},6500370,"Brooksville council orders new garbage truck and switches solid-waste disposal to Hernando County landfill",4639,1999820,6638875,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03&start=1999&end=6638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03/thumbnail_1999820.jpg","/articles/6500370/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-council-orders-new-garbage-truck-and-switches-solid-waste-disposal-to-Hernando-County-landfill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500370-915d87d8a6895300491da65d33359b98/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496384&Signature=MXooI~gcJeIXfbHWeFYm5boFB2B86xTDU2dsrP9Zxvyp7TI68lV5Q0ZN1-ETW6Mvzc26UCHWHYyzGQAPVXclnc1eihKz2WoASPop0fypf6wYEuOlp5SPnvxHyoA~Er6EB~LOF-APqpiw~5qbnJu~WywjwZNbwJ9Xi46UVHk1vEoZ3ZesiFgldYq7Hu9Nb46OoZjwqIOM2sf-A4dJOZ31tJUTPsIpuKbrniZ-ohhpXKHsTI8OERWrF4hsXq~BLUDoVHFTQBDIXBHu5jvdMtYK-b9TX5u4hp0XmpxvmLL2gaWjQd~iZ1ywXrqFqJZRN1VviasjzckFDsZgsTiU1sQFqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Brooksville City Council voted 4-1 to direct the Department of Public Works to purchase a new garbage truck and to change the city's solid-waste disposal contract from Heart Of Florida (Sumter County) to Hernando County. Councilmembers and DPW staff said the change would shorten hauling time, reduce wear on trucks and free crews for more in-city work such as debris pickup and vehicle maintenance.

DPW Director Richard Weeks summarized routes and equipment needs during a detailed budget review. Waste collection currently requires two daily round trips to the Sumter County landfill, adding roughly two hours of driving per route and increasing maintenance, fuel costs and downtime, Weeks said. He estimated the added operational wear roughly offsets about half of Hernando County's higher tipping fee; Hernando County disposal would cost an estimated additional $129,000 if the city did not offset travel savings, Weeks said. Council members and staff estimated the net additional annual cost would be closer to $60,000'65,000 after factoring in fuel and maintenance savings.

The council also approved purchasing a replacement sanitation vehicle (quoted at about $380,000) from the city's vehicle-replacement reserve; staff said the sanitation vehicle-replacement fund currently holds roughly $1.3 million. Councilmembers said the enterprise fund is self-sustaining and that the purchase was appropriate given the vehicle's condition.

Council member (mover) made the motion to approve both actions; the motion passed on a 4-1 vote. Council directed DPW to proceed with procurement and return to council with final purchase orders and contract amendments for landfill disposal.

DPW staff will also present cost reconciliation figures at the next quarterly review to show whether the anticipated savings materialize and whether sanitation user fees require adjustment.","Council directed the Department of Public Works to buy a replacement garbage truck and move solid-waste disposal from Heart of Florida (Sumter County) to Hernando County, citing vehicle wear, route time and staff productivity; motion passed 4-1.",{"_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},6500373,"Brooksville council approves Evergreen compensation changes after budget cuts; one member objects",885,5324835,6210000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03&start=5324&end=6210","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489734-ab5c2004ad8ea702f1c1e9fa6c984e03/thumbnail_5324835.jpg","/articles/6500373/Brooksville/Hernando-County/Florida/Brooksville-council-approves-Evergreen-compensation-changes-after-budget-cuts-one-member-objects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500373-fc4477f6e1e92466670d541c63d2bd4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496384&Signature=BdcWR98Y~RoWFDZk-yInn-MtajlpQkYZ2VHyOpo~eZuNTiWIWslvLeeJyV-AzLAOS7ygyy4CyFqMnrRLHF2aV9Gr0AfeuPOD4hQ7NJcsAJ5z4WeuWqNpdJyr74wyFuCvFjWnqNowTJdAvvqvEJeqaKPvPiiWTAthOZLrnC3yMHM0bcQhm8mJwgtSOYNJ~5JwFEOTMiESnpj6DUJnmwRXgMbHH6QyKyQldmMOcleQvjQc95WKn6ECPDsgjoKx-Zmw3CDCj-wZulQUsVFVk2r2gS0ADVJt0ZuayV9pOm9LMoXEJE8tAE8jPJE5KYpxlQzWvsg8uWjArqsuENcNUySUNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Brooksville City Council approved a package of pay-classification changes based on a compensation study by Evergreen Solutions, voting 4-1 to implement the changes effective Oct. 1, 2025. The council majority said reworked budget line items would cover the projected cost.

Council approved action followed a presentation by Kyle Martin, the city's human resources director, who said Evergreen found 89% of city positions paid below market and recommended targeted salary adjustments affecting 89 employees. Martin told the council the full cost to implement Evergreen's recommendations was $480,230.13 and that staff had redistributed previously approved general-fund items so the general fund impact would be net positive.

Those reallocations included postponing a full-time parks attendant ($55,000), delaying a parks tractor purchase ($110,000), reclassifying a streets position that reduced costs by $6,240, and a hiring freeze/organizational adjustments of $55,000, Martin said. With those and other changes, staff reported the general fund shortfall was eliminated and a $16,870.16 surplus would be returned to reserves.

During the public debate, one councilmember said the study felt \"vague and broad\" and expressed concern with approving raises while the city still faces a budget deficit. That councilmember voted against the measure. Supporters argued that the adjustments were necessary to reduce turnover and improve recruitment for public-works and utility crews whose duties the public repeatedly praised during citizen input.

The council did not change the study vendor's report; Martin confirmed Evergreen Solutions prepared the market analysis and that the vendor contract cost the city $28,500. The council approved the compensation plan with the staff-proposed budget adjustments, directing implementation on Oct. 1.

The decision will be recorded in the city payroll and budget documents; council members said they expected to continue looking for further savings as the fiscal year proceeds.","The City of Brooksville approved pay adjustments recommended by Evergreen Solutions after staff reallocated budget items to cover costs; the measure passed 4-1 amid debate over timing and the city's overall deficit.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brooksville and Hernando fire chiefs present competing plans; council requests joint meeting with county commissioners

Brooksville council orders new garbage truck and switches solid-waste disposal to Hernando County landfill

Brooksville council approves Evergreen compensation changes after budget cuts; one member objects