One of the first orders of business at the Brooksville City Council meeting on May 5 involved honoring a distinguished public servant as he enters retirement.
The council issued a proclamation recognizing District Fire Chief Donnie Nichols for his 20 years of service.
After detailing Nichols’ rise through fire services since 2004, the proclamation, read by Mayor Christa Tanner, concluded:
“WHEREAS, District Chief Nichols has become a pillar of the Brooksville Fire Department, known not only for his technical expertise and leadership during critical emergencies, but also for the mentorship, loyalty, and humanity he brought to the firehouse every day;
“and WHEREAS, his calm presence during chaos, his willingness to listen and guide younger firefighters, and his ability to lead with both discipline and heart have helped shape the department into a close-knit, mission-driven team;
“and WHEREAS, throughout countless fire responses, medical emergencies, natural disasters, and public safety events, District Chief Nichols demonstrated bravery under pressure and an unwavering sense of duty, always putting the needs of the community above his own;
“and WHEREAS, beyond his service in uniform, District Chief Nichols has been a familiar face at community events, school visits, and public safety education efforts, helping build bridges of trust between the fire department and the citizens it protects;
“and WHEREAS, after 20 years of devoted service, District Chief Nichols has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, the gratitude of an entire city, and a well-earned retirement filled with the love of family, the rewards of a job exceptionally done, and the knowledge that his legacy will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.”
Following the reading, Tanner added, “Thank you again on behalf of the City of Brooksville for all you have done. You will be sorely missed for sure, so come back and visit us when you can.”
Over the past two decades, Nichols worked his way up from firefighter to a driver engineer, then became a captain, and ultimately served as district fire chief.
Interim Fire Chief Andy Pepe read from a plaque he presented to Nichols at the meeting, which stated:
“Your calm under pressure, your commitment to excellence and your tireless efforts have left an indelible mark not only on the department but on the countless lives you’ve touched along the way.
“As you retire from active duty, may you look back with pride on your career that has made a lasting impact and may your next chapter be filled with joy, good health and well-deserved rest.”
Pepe followed up by saying, “You’ve earned it.”
The presentation concluded with photos taken with members of the council and the Nichols family.
The relatively short meeting also included a brief presentation on the importance of stormwater management, noting that the city must comply with both federal and state regulations in order to minimize pollutants and maintain stormwater systems. The city already has a dedicated city stormwater inspector on staff with the ability to issue fines and supervise any work as needed.
In a formality, the first quasi-judicial hearing was held to begin the process of officially declaring the expiration of a 2005 utility service agreement with Majestic Oaks. A new agreement was finally put in place at the previous council meeting, replacing the previous one that had expired back in 2015.
There was also a first reading of two ordinances, one that will create a low-density residential land use category of annexed property along the city’s perimeter. Permissible densities shall not exceed two dwelling units per acre, with a minimum lot width of 65 feet and a minimum setback to the garage of 45 feet. Nonresidential uses shall be considered only through a Planned Development Project (PDP) site plan-controlled zoning and shall not exceed a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.25, nor an impervious surface ratio (ISR) of 0.5.
The other ordinance will prohibit any further construction of car washes, self-storage facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers.
“I appreciate this, I’m going to call it proactivity by this council to look at what we have in the city,” Tanner said. “Certainly, these three things were limited. There is a surplus and access to; we are certainly not limiting access to any of them. But I don’t think we need any more in the city.”
Both ordinances passed 5-0, with a second reading as well as a second hearing on the Majestic Oaks agreement set for the next meeting on May 19.
