To the Editor:

What are the facts about what is going in in our Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District? I offer this for consideration.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009, other fire districts in the U.S. have asked for and gotten concessions from their unions

Cape Coral Fire Dept. made concessions, Union 2436.

Lehigh Fire Dept in 2006 was one of the wealthiest fire districts in the nation.

Lehigh Fire Dept. is represented by Union Local 1826.

Two Lehigh Fire commissioners are members of Union Local 1826.

Basic firefighter EMT average salary in Florida for firefighters is $34,000 a year. It’s online.

Basic firefighter EMT average salary in Lehigh with benefits is $72,000 plus.

What do you think a senior firefighter in Lehigh makes (at or over $100,000 a year)? Check the records.

Why didn’t our five commissioners, Ralph Hemingway, Jeff Barrett, Joel Guzman, Julie Barrett and David Adams demand concessions from the union in 2008 or now (sorry President Walt Stevens, Local 1826 said as of July 1, 2009 that firemen are going to cut the grass. Oh thank you.

The union has control over our fire board.

A union local 1826 pension is based on the last five years of service. It’s to their benefit to make the highest salary in the last five years.

In order that the senior members of Union Local 1826 continue to make their high salary for their pension, the union officers are willing to sacrifice the junior members’ jobs for greed.

Does the union care about the safety and welfare of Lehigh citizens?

Let’s vote no on the $100 fire special assessment tax. If the union and firemen would have taken concessions 18 months ago and the commissioners did their job, we could weather this storm.

Union, fire commissioners spend, remember 2006, pay raise coming soon, how many pay raises have our firemen had from 2007 until now?

Safer Grant program. In order for a fire district to apply for grant money, they have to show their response time is below the national average.

On july 3,2009, Commissioner Hemingway needed medical help and paramedics came to his house 29 minutes later, just a little late by 21 minutes.

At the same time, our fire department was a code Red.

Code Red means all trucks and manpower were busy.

Rain shower in Southwest Florida in the summer time puts us in Code Red. What! When are we going to start layoffs?

By the way, there was not a Lehigh Fire Department ambulance, it was Lee EMS that went to Commissioner Hemingway’s house.

For the Safer Grant program, a fire departments have to show and identify they have minimum personnel.

Fire commissioners and union president Walt Stevens, it’s okay to put two men in a big red fire truck. How nice, how are you going o fight a fire, safety and welfare.

On July 14, 2009, the Blue Ribbon Committee whose members are Community Council and Chamber of Commerce members in Lehigh did a great job in a report to our fire commissioners. Their report contained ideas to help cut cost and save jobs.

Commissioner Ralph Hemingway at the fire board meeting called them “yellow.”

Walt Stevens, union president of 1826 at the same meeting said they had run away.

This is how the union feels about the citizens of Lehigh Acres?

As for me to the Blue Ribbon Committee, thank you. You did a great job.

Our fire commissioners and union has hurt us more than anyone would know.

On behalf of the citizens of Lehigh Acres, please resign, please go. I do have a plant o save our fire department. My email is: sbaker8@live.com.

Steve Baker

Lehigh Acres