[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6638041,"mediaKeyId","2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a","parentId",2577986,"title","Votes at a glance: Hernando County Board actions on March 11","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3624000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a&start=3624&end=3624","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a/thumbnail_3624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6638041/Hernando-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Hernando-County-Board-actions-on-March-11","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638041-e3b72ba4a78163015478e2611ff942cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391964&Signature=h1ll4d3sCJKb2MYfEHHDYdAZ8dfxhK6ppEbosLaFGaOI6OObpIpUftJ7GbYpFoV1vnHK4f2FnK~D0mieicnmhXCdIIw6edi2BqQlB-0Iuw~-kwfZ-c~Yql8YnnkfRklUEn7mKppYvBC6-Q5VUxiUsk~vQRZziMPvgOV81CBB98fM9c86MeLKgNyEExw1ucDtMTYQiNsD~l4PY4nzNFd-rQY7XT00kIXxAAzgqHD~ZTuozVDW8Eth1RRBegVOo~YKlmq8i70wu3TmvleCUIYcIFyvORIkcmAkksng4cQPZFoIWHtMp2TA1nctKDwiGFgdNDJAFFwfu4V0jw0eLwfw5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hernando County","date","2025-03-11T08:50:00Z","article","Hernando County’s Board of County Commissioners recorded multiple formal actions March 11. Major motions and outcomes are summarized below; the meeting included fuller debate and presentations on some items.

Key outcomes

- Ordinance 2025-02 (amend Chapter 12 – fire prevention): Adopted (roll-call vote recorded; majority). The ordinance modernizes code language and allows the fire chief to recommend local burn bans to the county administrator for expedited action (see separate article).

- Disaster housing plan and delegation: The board ratified the county disaster housing plan and delegated limited authority to the county administrator to sign donation agreements for immediate travel-trailer placements; the board also voted to end the rolling local state of emergency (voice vote; unanimous yes).

- Duke Energy MOU (Lake Townsend Park): Denied (motion to deny carried 4-0). The board rejected the proposed memorandum of understanding and easement for an underground connector across preserve land.

- Budget policy clarification: Board updated budget policy 02/1000 relating to capital expenditures and contingency reserves; passed unanimously. Staff said the update removes built-in contingencies on planned capital projects and aligns contingency requests to construction stages.

- Marion County reimbursement request: Approved. The board authorized a $12,334.70 reimbursement to Marion County for county’s share of pre-construction planning costs for a district medical examiner facility.

- Airport late fee waiver (tenant payment received late, postage delay): Approved (4-0). The board approved a waiver of a $561 late fee for an airport tenant who mailed payment but experienced postal delay; staff indicated new online payment options would reduce future occurrences.

- Procurement and purchasing items (I1–I5) and several routine contracts: Approved unanimously.

- Lease for employee wellness center expansion (Buckner property adjacent to Care ATC): Approved 4-0; county to lease adjacent commercial space to expand on-site employee health services.

- Traffic-calming guideline revision: Approved 4-0; changes clarify which engineering section handles requests and require homeowner association requests to come from an HOA rather than individual residents.

- Variance petition (Jesse Navarro / JC Navarro Properties LLC): Continued to April 3, 2025 (motion carried 4-0 after public comment). The petitioner sought reductions in front and side setbacks; the board asked the applicant to consult with the adjacent homeowner and return with alternatives or revised plans.

- Proclamations: The board adopted proclamations declaring March 2025 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Hernando County and proclaiming March 15, 2025 as Gold Star Family Day; both were adopted in regular session and accompanied by speakers from local organizations.

The board also heard extended public comment and directed staff to return with follow-up information on several items, notably Chinsengate Hill (historic site) where the board requested at least three lease-modification options for review in May (no lease termination vote was taken March 11).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hernando County - Board of County Commissioners on 2025-03-11 9:00 AM - Regular Meeting - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved code and budget policy changes, ratified several consent items, continued a quasi-judicial variance, denied a utility easement, and adopted proclamations for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Gold Star Family Day.","taxTitle","Hernando County, Florida","taxId",2876,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6638046,"Commissioners adopt revised fire code to let fire chief recommend local burn bans",240,3396000,3636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a&start=3396&end=3636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a/thumbnail_3396000.jpg","/articles/6638046/Hernando-County/Florida/Commissioners-adopt-revised-fire-code-to-let-fire-chief-recommend-local-burn-bans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638046-dedeb3e99351b23d23249aefb662df50/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391964&Signature=nG7SpPKsFja5UK8UXTFLwWonZG-pUiTHytvcWIYP73EKFWuAA5V48byzii13PJc~P-CqiB2-0oyKs8JouvwACzaHA~eLeVtBYNv-ITxGXe4sAadRbv5t3S7BwsphgaVALukWzVbyPncgDOMguHRNGMmx40GdwWechv3si0wnbpKu2ZYoK2BmG2OF3Nh~qI5wDZglSnnLAUu-bOUf9zuGuIfO2UISmTy6Y~yBxTcGzps0u~cDHksIgtBX09-XMWhmH3RlQao5U18Vyj6lZBabz1bwTAGl-EHYeoflzQ59VgJUoM8p~3AGYazs1eBb9305ItpJmzjnPuwtdMFSHeFlNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County commissioners voted unanimously March 11 to adopt updates to Chapter 12 of the Hernando County Code on fire prevention and protection, modernizing language and giving the fire chief the ability to recommend local burn bans to the county administrator so a ban can be enacted more quickly when conditions warrant.

Fire Chief Paul Hasmeyer, who led the rewrite effort with county attorneys, said the revision also cleans up antiquated language, updates references to the National Fire Protection Association and the Florida Building Code, and clarifies the process for declaring a local burn ban so the county can react faster to high-risk weather and fire conditions. \"This would essentially allow myself as a fire chief to take all the data from the Florida Fire Service, what our neighboring counties are doing... make a recommendation to the county administrator,\" Hasmeyer said, adding that the board would still ratify and could amend or end any ban at the next available meeting.

Commissioners praised the change as consistent with other Florida counties and said they supported enabling officials in the field to act more quickly in wildfire-prone conditions. Commissioner Ansler moved to adopt the ordinance as presented; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.","The board adopted an update to the county's fire-prevention code giving the fire chief authority to recommend local burn bans to the county administrator for faster implementation, bringing Hernando County into alignment with other Florida counties.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6638051,"Board denies Duke Energy easement memorandum for underground connection through Lake Townsend Park",692,5271000,5963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a&start=5271&end=5963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a/thumbnail_5271000.jpg","/articles/6638051/Hernando-County/Florida/Board-denies-Duke-Energy-easement-memorandum-for-underground-connection-through-Lake-Townsend-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638051-4b90cef42a4339a110a1d0c29df2df50/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391964&Signature=U-oBx4nUxznl2NV-vOp6aV4TvB5bfUJBpUh2gzwXoiumNptOvEjteoG9Rae5ex5MFLWrzYoO0ZgqcUX~pEn7AkxpWOwA08Hd6BfCte-ywzfk95JH5GLXqbARAtpC8UXSfC2kpJW9gE2uZYwPvu12kTKO60QPK~~FAlDm~efmikNYvKCi1qsF~4h9tHCWHM0E4APJoXpKQBYYS6FqP1~lsnaAhX8cugttqg63K-a0BgAgWxOAtYwO8gLXkezOK85bZg-41KMX82XlskbWeq3uamKHm3Ybz~4EPECWl1jnRgdNbmPA~1LbqtmO62ArLIpN4NCHewBX4B1jEfGKOW-JyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County commissioners voted 4-0 March 11 to deny a proposed memorandum of understanding and easement request from Duke Energy to install underground distribution lines and equipment through portions of Lake Townsend Park and adjacent preserve lands.

Duke Energy representatives told the board the installation was a limited, primarily underground connection to link a solar project to the existing grid and that the easement had been reduced to a 75-foot corridor, with most infrastructure underground and a short above-ground junction box. Duke said the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal reviewers still had to sign off and that the company had reduced on-site impacts after earlier comments.

Commissioners and residents raised objections that the installation would run through county preserve land and that the energy generated would not be dedicated to Hernando County residents. \"If it’s going through the preserve and it's going to be charging systems that are not Hernando County, that raises major concerns for me,\" Commissioner Ramsler said during discussion. Other commissioners noted earlier disagreements with Duke over local traffic- and school-related easements and said the utility had been uncooperative in prior local planning discussions.

Duke Energy’s project manager said the company expects the renewable project to energize the equivalent of roughly 23,000 homes on the regional grid but acknowledged the grid cannot be directed to deliver generation to any single county. Duke also said the company had removed overhead language and limited the easement width to minimize impacts.

After sustained public comment and an extended exchange with Duke representatives, Commissioner Hawkins moved to deny the MOU; Commissioner Loco seconded and the motion carried 4-0. The board did not adopt the easement and asked staff to continue coordination with partners on the project, including the National Park Service, and to seek cooperative solutions that avoid cutting preserve lands when possible.","After residents and commissioners raised conservation and equity concerns, the board voted 4-0 to deny a Duke Energy memorandum of understanding to place underground transmission connectors through Lake Townsend Park and associated preserve lands.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6638055,"Commissioners open review of Chinsengate Hill lease after public concerns about planned improvements",308,6376000,6684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a&start=6376&end=6684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a/thumbnail_6376000.jpg","/articles/6638055/Hernando-County/Florida/Commissioners-open-review-of-Chinsengate-Hill-lease-after-public-concerns-about-planned-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638055-436b9308a843b821fee46f87cc9e9ea3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391964&Signature=kpC3lBTYNpQ1mik7fTHQxoSl3sJYmjCfgbVZjX~Jhu3wukJDkRUh-hOFqzuv4GzFouBoNPWj-IlUZEAGrpGIpXFD2xeHuF0eQjGP9c8OUUhx7ly6NDyqgXyfxisgBEgk4SBvr12JebU-9cQR0pe4ZJjJcBnQOXB1b1FNQzTsOtBvv-5~NtAUYu9RplBHA0MubgJbYkOXdMvOuwdHBRhgi7JN9-SBrf1xFnrpikPBpfqMizrX6kBs2W21aNn8ytAVGgKdylCHUiGoQa0qwQoZGyfUUM6IXY-9~7dKUZmuFuulO9fwrvz9HxkZ7nT8pUDh9q6eHaH5L-qKUCsWsHxDLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County commissioners heard hours of public comment March 11 on Chinsengate Hill, a state-owned historic property the county currently manages under a lease, and directed staff to return with at least three lease-modification options for the board to consider during the budget cycle.

The meeting drew residents, history and preservation professionals, descendants of long-time local families, and representatives from the Tampa Bay History Center who described recent preservation, programming and museum work at the site. Speakers praised the site’s history and said it has strong potential as a heritage destination. Gulf Archaeology Research Institute director Gary Ellis urged a thorough archaeological study and said the property may be a strong candidate for higher-level historic designation.

Several residents and local preservation advocates raised concerns that recent tree removal and proposed paving and restroom placement near the dining hall may affect historically significant landscape features and subsurface archaeological deposits. \"Please stop cutting down trees and bushes that have been there for over a hundred years,\" volunteer docent Amber Lamoreaux said, urging consultation with archaeological specialists before ground-disturbing work begins.

County staff and the county attorney answered questions about the lease and permitting requirements. County attorney John Jobin noted the federal historic-site boundary covers a smaller core area (the manor house square) than the larger landscape often discussed by the public; he also quoted lease language that allows the lessee to make repairs required by code, the Americans with Disabilities Act or health regulations when necessary to keep facilities usable.

Commissioner Alaco proposed the board seek three options for changes to the county lease or assignment possibilities, including removing the retreat center portion of the county's responsibility or transferring some duties to another entity. Commissioner Loco moved that staff return to the board in May with at least three potential lease-modification options; the board approved the directive and asked staff to also examine funding alternatives, the scope of historic boundaries, tree-removal justification and archaeological-sensitivity studies.

Staff and the county administrator said the county has been managing the site since a nonprofit dissolved and that the county has funded capital work (air conditioning, roofing, road millings, water line work) to stabilize structures and permit public use. The board asked staff to provide clearer cost accounting for recent work (the current budget included about $892,000 in allocations and several projects in the capital plan) and to explore whether state, tourism or other funding sources could reduce general-fund pressure.

No board vote was taken to end or alter the lease at the meeting; instead the board requested staff return in May with options for the board’s review before the budget is finalized and encouraged continued community involvement in any design and stewardship plans.","The board paused action and directed staff to return in May with lease modification options after public speakers urged preservation and asked that tree removal and archaeological risks be examined before paving and restroom work proceed.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6638059,"Hernando County ratifies disaster housing plan, delegates limited authority and ends local state of emergency",518,665000,1183000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a&start=665&end=1183","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2577986-6f5c31f2053acc61d6317e6690e44a4a/thumbnail_665000.jpg","/articles/6638059/Hernando-County/Florida/Hernando-County-ratifies-disaster-housing-plan-delegates-limited-authority-and-ends-local-state-of-emergency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6638059-26af0482913702ba2f20a8ee13885ae3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391964&Signature=iTDh-YaDqkkEQmrQGUAhrhvz92HWBGcwY3hcpiDB7oGV9TuIhX58fRwEZH-XZMIKMWnQBho~eJZdTj59OaJgLBRGAIewjAHxb2dgWltnVmY~YoLZBE3QMjN-3Kcs1C9sV81dLBkB3NHNnvZzt64lallYz4m03Il-uzs0WIXmEp2JSmMNpw-R0cCG-ZX0ntEPXTgioR87AX28R1Ga4F~YNhDphlSZ0UzYMivxTfZZrvzuLw3Rgo6AeeAJ3gt8UXUUWcOXC6ESALFatbCmzhEUC~3r56ee7fo7iO-RFvsWEK0j0c4N1cq38xCjUS9-8k7ELOFZt4KTGbjtez129Wr2fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hernando County commissioners on March 11 ratified a disaster housing plan to place temporary travel-trailer units for homeowners displaced by recent storms, approved procedures to execute donation agreements for units already placed and voted to end the county's local state of emergency while delegating limited signature authority for immediate placements.

Emergency management director Aaron Thomas told the commission the state-run Elevate Florida program has drawn 82 county applicants so far and that the county had secured on-site applicant workshops from the Florida Division of Emergency Management to help residents apply. \"We have a total of 82 applicants here specifically in Hernando,\" Thomas said. He described staffing and eligibility steps the county is using to screen and place units and said staff will continue case management through permit milestones and the 180-day mark after placement.

Fallon Alo of iPerametrics, introduced by Thomas as leading case management for the county, described the program as a \"last resort option for homeowners who are still displaced from their primary residence due to the storms,\" and outlined vetting steps including septic inspections, income verification and FEMA/insurance coordination.

Angie Bonfardino, executive director of United Way of Hernando County, described United Way donations that covered hookup and title-transfer fees and said the nonprofit has been paying costs that individual homeowners would otherwise face. \"Those dollars are going to good use,\" Bonfardino told commissioners, describing payments for electric hookups, title transfer fees and towing as examples of barriers the local donations have removed.

County administrator Jeff Rogers explained the board was being asked to ratify the disaster housing plan in the meeting agenda, to ratify donation agreements for already-placed units and to delegate limited authority to sign future donation agreements so unit placements would not be delayed by waiting for the next board meeting. Commissioner Loco moved to both delegate the limited authority to sign placement agreements as described and to end the local state of emergency; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Commissioners said they expected the county would not need more emergency ratifications. Rogers and Thomas said the delegation is intended only to accelerate placements after staff finishes checks including electrical permitting, site planning and safety inspections; all signed agreements would be brought back to the board for ratification.

The county presented status figures: the county had requested 49 units from the state, had placed seven travel trailers to date, had roughly 81 households providing documentation for review, had conducted roughly 35 site inspections and had eight additional cases ready for committee review.

Ending the local state of emergency does not remove the county's obligations to displaced residents, commissioners said; it removes the week-to-week ratification step the board used during the immediate surge response while preserving staff authority for contract execution under the delegated limits approved at the meeting.

Commissioners asked staff to report back after the applicant workshops and to provide ongoing status reports on placements, costs and any lessons from applicants' experiences with Elevate Florida.","The Board ratified the county's disaster housing plan to place travel trailers for storm-displaced homeowners, authorized the county administrator to ratify donation agreements and voted to end the rolling local state of emergency that had been used for rapid approvals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Hernando County Board actions on March 11

Commissioners adopt revised fire code to let fire chief recommend local burn bans

Board denies Duke Energy easement memorandum for underground connection through Lake Townsend Park

Commissioners open review of Chinsengate Hill lease after public concerns about planned improvements

Hernando County ratifies disaster housing plan, delegates limited authority and ends local state of emergency