TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough’s County Commission took a first step Wednesday toward disbanding its Emergency Policy Group.
Other than hurricane response, the commission itself would instead begin handling response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that we need to take a different approach,” said Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Les Miller.
Miller said it was time for the Hillsborough commission to re-take control of the county’s COVID-19 response from its Emergency Policy Group. And the rest of the board unanimously agreed.
“Because we are the board that was elected to issue legislative orders for our county,” said Commissioner Mariella Smith.
Hillsborough is the only county in Florida which has delegated emergency response authority to a separate policy group.
“I knew we were unusual in our structure,” said Commissioner Pat Kemp, “I did not know we were the only county out of the 67 counties in Florida that have the structure.
The Emergency Policy Group, created nearly 40 years ago by the Hillsborough commission to respond to emergencies such as hurricanes, has passed controversial ordinances during its COVID-19 response.
Curfews and mask mandates have been met with lawsuits from those who say the panel lacked the legislative authority.
“I personally would like to see the EPG stay intact to just handle the hurricanes and eliminate anything else,” said Commissioner Sandra Murman.
The EPG is a more diversified group, made up of local mayors, three county commissioners, the head of the Hillsborough school board, and the county sheriff.
Those same leaders, said commissioners, could still be consulted as part of any coordinated emergency response.
“But the bottom line is the buck stops here,” said Smith. “And the only authority the EPG has is our board authority that we delegate to them if we deem it has to do.”
As part of the same proposal, any orders or ordinances that have been passed by the EPG would automatically be approved of - and continued by - the board of County commissioners. So, for example, Hillsborough’s mask mandate would remain in place and unchanged.
Dismantling the EPG for purposes other than hurricane response isn’t quite a done deal yet.
Hillsborough’s Board of County Commissioners will meet again July 21 to vote on the ordinance. The public will also have a chance to offer opinions on Aug. 5.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister issued this statement:
"I fully support the decision of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The B.O.C.C. has greater purview over county resources, will streamline the allocation of those resources, and be a more efficient representation of every citizen in our county.”
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