Lehigh Acres Fire Board commissioners have voted to support a resolution asking legal counsel to pursue a special election to ask the voters to pay a $100 special assessment on each of the 128,000 parcels in Lehigh Acres. That is in addition to the 3 mils they have voted on.

If the people vote for the special assessment, it could bring in more than $12 million.

Counsel Richard Pringle said the election could not take place until at least 120 days after the resolution which would bring the matter to the voters sometime in December. The monthly meeting was July 16. With the resolution in hand, Pringle said he would contact Sharon Harrington, Supervisor of Election, who would come up with a price for the special election, which could include mail-in ballots or actual precinct voting at the polls.

He said he would urge board members to pay poll workers and not accept free service as it may cause problems if that matter of an election is chosen.

It costs to bring machines to the 17 precincts in Lehigh, set them up and to staff the precincts and to count the votes. Pringle said he didn't know what the Supervisor of Elections would charge, but would have that information at the next month.

Commissioner David Adams voted no on the resolution saying he wanted to know what it would cost first. He questioned whether there was enough in the budget to pay for a special election.

Meanwhile, the commissioners voted to take "zero salary" as a way to help alleviate the financial crisis at the fire district. Commissioners get $500 a month. The vote would go into effect on August 1.

Several people spoke before the fire board, including Kevin Shea, recognized in Lehigh for his knowledge of being able to analyze numbers.

"Lehigh Acres is in a mini-depression. My parents lived through the Great Depression as adults. RealtyTrac a national firm that tracks foreclosures noted today that Lehigh had 17,978 properties in pre foreclosure 9,457 defaults, 4,888 Sheriff sales, 3,167 bank owned, and others.

"The foreclosure activity in Lehigh Acres has skyrocketed. Since July 10 the numbers have doubled. The situation is very bad, he said.

Dave Wheaton told board members that the salaries of the firefighters are too much and that he was for no more taxes and he said, "let the chief do his job."

While this was a regular meeting of the fire board, the main topic of what to do to raise money to aid the District lead the discussion.

Only the chief has the power to lay off firefighters and other employees at the department. The board can only suggest, but they have no power under Florida statute to order him to fire anyone in the department. But public pressure from the firefighters for the last few meetings have caused the board to ask the chief not to fire personnel until at least the end of September.

The chief says the costs may be as much as $700,000 in salaries and benefits which would have to come from the reserve fund. Ad valorem taxes are reduced because of the lowered evaluation of homes in Lehigh.

Robert Anderson told the board to "make something happen."

"Take the bull by the horns and do something. If you have to let the men go, do it," he shouted.

Harold Doidge told board members to let the chief do his job. "This board has cut his legs off," he said.

Frank LaRosa urged board members to not take money out of their pocket as they voted to serve with zero pay. He said their expenses such as gasoline, etc., should be paid for. LaRosa was a member of the board several years ago and is presently a member of the elected Lee Memorial Health Systems Board of Directors. He pointed to the chief and said he is the boss, just like on the hospital board I serve on, the CEO is the boss."

Steve Baker told the board "to let the chief do his job."

Walt Stevens, a union president, said, "it's shameful that you (the board and the public) are blaming us, the union. We have made concessions about pay increases and overtime pay and we have worked with the chief," Stevens said.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner David Adams said he had problems with the blue ribbon panel's budget presentation the week before. He said they should have presented the board with information before the presentation so members could understand what they were suggesting.

Joel Guzman agreed with Adams and said "they (members of the blue ribbon panel) disappeared after they made a presentation. Most did, except for Rick Anglickis, the chairman who said later he was there for the entire meeting standing in the back.

And Commissioner Ralph Hemingway said the group "did not do their homework."

Facebook  MySpace  Digg  Stumble    Mixx  Fark  del.icio.us   LiveSpaces

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-10 | Post a comment

drgiggles
07-25-09 7:02 AM »Report Comment Abuse	They definately need some creative fresh minds. As far as the Firemen living in Lehigh. I know several Fireman. None of them live in the same district they live in for personal reasons that I can agree with. I am not concerned about that. I am concerned about them trying to take away more of my hard earned money. a TAX is a TAX. That is what this is about. Drgiggles.
kgoodson
07-24-09 6:43 PM »Report Comment Abuse	They need some fresh, creative, thinking and a change in direction. Are fireman required to live in Lehigh, so the community can take advantage OF THEM LIVING AND SPENDING HERE.
ROARINGLION
07-24-09 11:25 AM »Report Comment Abuse	Looks like it will be a mail ballot on december 8--35,000 mailed $170,000 cost, yet it only cost $50,000 to fit one truck with a foam device which is more effictive in putting out fires --time to get rid of the whole commission and the union influence--the blew their chance to help the community--our survey shows 20 to one against the 100$ raise--IT DEFFINATELY WILL FAIL---
kgoodson
07-24-09 10:49 AM »Report Comment Abuse	They do a good job, but they are too expensive. The fireman make too much money. They seem to have one of the most lucrative jobs in Lehigh
drgiggles
07-24-09 6:25 AM »Report Comment Abuse	It isn't just the Union that is a disgrace. It is the Commissioners and Administration also. They were the ones who also signed the contract and make the decisions on how much money they can spend. Drgiggles.
Charles
07-23-09 8:17 PM »Report Comment Abuse	Walt Stevens is a disgrace. He should be putting forward pay cut proposals for his union members who already have outrageous salaries. That includes the fat rumped old timers who make over 130K and yet can't get up a ladder. This union has shown its colors: stupidity and greedy!
Charles
07-23-09 8:17 PM »Report Comment Abuse	Walt Stevens is a disgrace. He should be putting forward pay cut proposals for his union members who already have outrageous salaries. That includes the fat rumped old timers who make over 130K and yet can't get up a ladder. This union has shown its colors: stupidity and greedy!
kgoodson
07-23-09 4:43 PM »Report Comment Abuse	HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT WHEN THE UNION HAS NOT MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AT COST REDUCTION?
drgiggles
07-23-09 10:57 AM »Report Comment Abuse	The Commissioners are going to bring this to vote. Why? Not because they believe it will pass. But so they can say it isn't their fault that the service failed. They have spent and spent and are trying to justify their failures. I say go ahead and put it up to vote. It will never pass. Then you will have spent up to an additional 175,000 dollars of your reserves. They will be bankrupt before the Blue Ribbon Committee stated. Why. because they can't admit they are wrong and do something about cutting their expenses. Drgiggles.
4rid43eite
07-23-09 9:33 AM »Report Comment Abuse	property values are not going up, or even stabilizing from declines, anytime soon, for years!! And we're facing an expensive utility expansion project here like in Cape Coral. Property owners here cannot afford this. The LAFD must face the facts - the money's not there. But I suspect they're only trying to milk this thing until the next election when they're all thrown out.

You must first login before you can comment.