Brooksville Debates Buying Tree Equipment Versus Renting It

Brooksville’s debate over tree work turned into a broader taxpayer question on May 2: whether the city should keep renting specialized equipment when needed, or buy its own gear and absorb the cost of storage, maintenance and training. The issue surfaced as council members weighed Ordinance No. 1012, which would have let the city spend up to $50,000 from its tree mitigation fund on trimming or removing dead trees on public property and rights of way. The fund now holds about $352,000 and is mainly used to plant trees in public spaces.

The proposal had already moved through several steps. The Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission recommended it on March 11, and Community Development Director David Hainley presented it during the April 6 discussion. By the April 20 council agenda, the item was listed for second and final reading before regular business, tied to Section 4-5.8, Tree Replacement Requirements, in the land development code. A public notice framed the hearing the same way, and the city’s official calendar showed another regular council meeting set for May 4, underscoring how quickly the issue had become part of Brooksville’s spring policy load.

The fight sharpened when Vice Mayor Thomas Bronson asked whether the tree fund could also be used to buy equipment. Mayor Christa Tanner and City Attorney Chloe Berryman said that would not be legally sound. Council Member Louis Hallal argued that Brooksville spends nearly $15,000 each year renting equipment and is paying too much over time to avoid owning basic tools. Council Member Betty Erhard pushed back, saying ownership brings its own costs, including storage, maintenance, liability coverage and training. Resident Richard Ross also warned that buying equipment can become expensive when it sits unused much of the year.

Code Enforcement Officer Richard Smith said the tree mitigation fund should not be used to buy equipment, but he said he plans to seek funding for a bucket truck through the capital improvement plan. Smith said the city trimmed 102 trees over the past year and said a truck would help with other jobs too, including hanging Christmas decorations. In the end, council rejected the ordinance change by a 3-2 vote, with Hallal and Bronson opposed. At the same meeting, members unanimously approved a comprehensive plan change for a 45,302-square-foot warehouse tied to Coastal Waste and Recycling and Eyes Equipment Sales, a project expected to bring more daily traffic and utility demand as Brooksville keeps managing growth, tree work and the costs that come with both.