Hernando County

Board of County Commissioners

Regular Meeting

Minutes

September 9, 2025

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in the John

Law Ayers County Commission Chambers, Government Center, Brooksville, Florida.

Attendee Name

Brian Hawkins

Jerry Campbell

John Allocco

Title

Chairman

Vice Chairman

Second Vice Chairman

Commissioner

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Toni Brady

Carla Burrmann

Todd Crosby

Scott Harper

Paul Hasenmeier

Scott Herring

Commissioner

Deputy County Administrator

Aquatic Services Manager

Assistant County Engineer

Solid Waste Services Manager

Public Safety Director/Fire Chief

Public Works Director/County Engineer

Public Information Officer

County Attorney

Dominique Holmes

Jon Jouben

Christopher Linsbeck

Gordon Onderdonk

Valerie Pianta

Veda Ramirez

Jeffrey Rogers

Carla Rossiter-Smith

Heidi Prouse

Community Services Director

Utilities Director

Economic Development Director

Housing and Supportive Services Director

County Administrator

Chief Procurement Officer

Deputy Clerk

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

COUNTY ATTORNEY JON JOUBEN

Attorney/Client Executive Session to Discuss to Litigation Strategy in Case of Hernando

County vs. Hernando County Fair Association, Inc.

Proof of publication of Notice to Public of Attorney/Client Session was noted announcing that

the Board would discuss litigation strategy pertaining to Hernando County vs. Hernando

County Fair Association, Inc., Hernando County Circuit Court Case No. H-27-CA-2021-1454.

The attending parties would include all Board members; County Administrator Jeffrey Rogers;

Deputy County Administrator Toni Brady; Community Services Director Christopher Linsbeck;

County Attorney Jon Jouben; and Assistant County Attorney Melissa Tartaglia. The

attorney/client session was closed to the public. The entire session was recorded by a certified

court reporter and the transcript would be filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court. Said transcript

would remain sealed until the litigation has concluded.

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed into Executive Session at 8:35 a.m., in the Second Floor Conference

Room, Room 261, Government Center, and reconvened at 9:15 a.m.

AGENDA

Motion

To approve the Agenda.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jerry Campbell

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis provided an update regarding Animal Services.

CITIZENS' COMMENTS

Citizens commented on various topics and issues.

BOARD/STAFF RESPONSES

The Board and/or staff responded to questions and concerns expressed during Citizens'

Comments.

There was Board consensus to direct the staff to bring back an agenda item regarding the

status of the Waterways Advisory Committee for discussion at a future Board meeting.

CONSENT AGENDA

Low Income Pool Letter of Agreement and Intergovernmental Transfer Questionnaire

on Behalf of Premier Community Health Care Group and State Agency for Health Care

Administration for FY 2025-26

Purchase Order Agreement With Lutheran Services Florida, Inc., d/b/a LSF Health

Systems for Funding of Community Paramedicine Program and Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Resource Coordination From Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide

Response Agreement a/k/a Opioid Settlement

Ratification of Application to America 250 Grant Program for Proposed, Voices of

Liberty: Civic Literacy and Living History at the Library, Initiative for Library Services

Department

Ratification of Donation Agreement Through County Travel Trailer Unit Program for

Disaster Housing Relief

Ratification of Transit Administrator’s Execution of State Department of Transportation

Public Transportation Grant Agreements for Fiscal Year 2025

Request to Apply for Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant for Purchase of

Multi-Purpose Boots for Hernando County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services

Tourist Development Council Special Events Marketing Grant Award to Promote

Florida’s Adventure Coast Events for FY 2025

Utility Agreement Between Hernando County Water and Sewer District and Lennar

Homes, LLC, for Freedom Ridge Offsite Improvements to Coastal Way Pump Station

and Oversizing of Offsite Utilities for Utilities Department

Approval of Minutes for Strategic Plan Meeting of July 31, 2025

Approval of Minutes for Land Use Meeting of August 5, 2025

Declaration of Various Tangible Property as Surplus for Disposal and Removal From

Fixed Asset Inventory

Transmittal of List of Accounts Payable Disbursements for Weeks Ended August 1,

2025, and August 8, 2025

Acceptance of Perpetual Utility Easement From CFT NV Developments, LLC, a/k/a

Panda Express With Hernando County Water and Sewer District for Existing Utility

Infrastructure Located at 7165 Mariner Boulevard

Resolution Proclaiming September 15, 2025, Through October 15, 2025, as Hispanic

Heritage Month

Resolution Proclaiming September 17, 2025, Through September 23, 2025, as

Constitution Week

Motion

To approve the Consent Agenda (Resolution Nos. 2025-152 and 2025-153).

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Ryan Amsler

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE

Notice of Purchasing Policy Exceptions for July 2025

Transmittal of Emerald Creek Community Development District FY 2025-26 Meeting

Schedule

Transmittal of Somerset Bay Community Development District Final Adopted Budget for

FY 2025-26

Transmittal of Somerset Bay Community Development District FY 2025-26 Meeting

Schedule

Transmittal of Waterford Community Development District Final Adopted Budget for FY

2025-26

Transmittal of Waterford Community Development District FY 2025-26 Meeting

Schedule

CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER CARLA ROSSITER-SMITH

Award of Contract and Professional Services Agreement With Davies Claims North

America, Inc., for Workers’ Compensation Third Party Claims Administration Services

for Human Resource Department (Contract No. 25-PS00995/AP; Amount: $101,325.00)

Award of Quote and Work Authorization Agreement With Goodwin Brothers

Construction, Inc., for Companero Entra Phase 2 Water Main Reconstruction Project for

Utilities Department (Contract No. 23-T00040/AP; Amount: $440,259.09)

Award of Quote and Work Authorization Agreement to Waller Construction, Inc., for

Waterways Temporary Housing Modular Installation for Waterways Department

(Contract No. 24-TFG00704/AP; Amount: $319,998.90)

This item was pulled and voted on separately.

Termination of Landfill Gas Purchase Agreement and Nullification of Wellfield

Maintenance Agreement With Timberline Energy, LLC, and Bill of Sale With Timberline

Energy, LLC, Pertaining to Northwest Solid Waste Landfill

Motion

To approve Item Nos. I-1, I-2 and I-4.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Ryan Amsler

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

Award of Quote and Work Authorization Agreement to Waller Construction, Inc., for

Waterways Temporary Housing Modular Installation for Waterways Department

(Contract No. 24-TFG00704/AP; Amount: $319,998.90)

Motion

To deny.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Ryan Amsler

Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

Hawkins

NAYES:

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed at 11:15 a.m. and reconvened at 11:25 a.m.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR VALERIE PIANTA

Submittal of Application to Federal Economic Development Administration for FY 2025

Disaster Supplemental Grant for Critical Infrastructure Construction Runway

Conversion Project at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

John Allocco

Ryan Amsler

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER DOMINIQUE HOLMES

Legislative Priorities Requests for 2025-26 State Legislative Agenda and Proposed

Policy Submissions for Florida Association of Counties

HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR VEDA RAMIREZ

Non-Profit Construction Deferred Loan Agreement With Mid Florida Community

Services, Inc., d/b/a You Thrive Florida Through State Housing Initiatives Partnership

Program

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

UTILITIES DIRECTOR GORDON ONDERDONK

Request by Willie Twiggs for Water and Sewer Connection Fee Extended Payment Plan

for Property Located at 3335 Shoal Line Boulevard

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/COUNTY ENGINEER SCOTT HERRING

Declaration of County Owned Property Located at 201 West Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Boulevard as Surplus Property and Consideration of Ground Lease Agreement With

Community Food Bank of Citrus County, Inc., for Rise Center Food Bank (Key #357884)

Motion

To declare the property as surplus.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

John Allocco

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

Comm. Campbell temporarily left the meeting and returned shortly thereafter.

Comm. Amsler made the following Motion.

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

The motion died for lack of a second.

Comm. Champion made the following Motion.

Motion

To continue the lease agreement with Community Food Bank of Citrus County, Inc., for Rise

Center Food Bank, following a community discussion, a mailer and a grass roots production of

notification, as well as notification on the site itself.

Comm. Campbell seconded the Motion.

(Note: County Administrator Jeffrey Rogers clarified that staff would bring the item back to the

Board as soon as possible.)

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Jerry Campbell

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

RECESS/RECONVENE

The Board recessed at 1:55 p.m. and reconvened at 2:05 p.m.

Declaration of County Owned Property Located on Cedar Lane as Surplus Property and

Consideration of Purchase Offer Submitted by Krishna Achugatla and Sudha Doma

(Key #369327)

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Jerry Campbell

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

AQUATIC SERVICES MANAGER CARLA BURRMANN

Presentation by Putnam Land Conservancy Regarding Ridge Manor Gap Project

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER LINSBECK

Presentation and Discussion Regarding Structural Analysis Report for Linda Pedersen

Park Observation Tower

Comm. Champion made the following Motion.

Motion

To approve and bond the project with tourism tax to repay the bond.

Comm. Champion restated his Motion as follows:

Restated Motion

To tear down the existing tower with funds we have set aside, and to design and fund the new

tower based on bonding with tourism tax repaying it, to include public communication.

Chairman Hawkins seconded the Motion.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

Brian Hawkins

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JEFFREY ROGERS

2026 County Holiday Calendar and Board of County Commissioners Meeting Schedule

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Ryan Amsler

Steve Champion

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

Appointment of Deanna Passarelli to Fine Arts Council Until December 31, 2029

Motion

To approve the staff recommendation.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

ADOPTED

Steve Champion

John Allocco

Hawkins, Campbell, Allocco, Amsler and Champion

Update Regarding Ongoing Board Directives

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The Board commented on various issues.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.