Fire Chief Don Adams and the Board of Commissioners of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District say assessment fees for all properties in Lehigh need to be considered in light of the bleak outlook for the financial stability of the fire department.

Adams told the commissioners at the April 19 meeting that assessment fees would be in addition to ad valorem fees. He asked the board to consider the creation of an advisory board as one way for the fire district to get citizens “engaged” and help come up with solutions for the future of their fire service. He said he feels a fee could support both fire and emergency medical services.

The board discussed at length the possibility of such fees being formed but agreed that the public needed to be a part of any solution to help find a way to keep the Lehigh Acres Fire Department running after the summer of 2012.

That is when the money runs out from the SAFER grant and many consider another SAFER grant doubtful with the cuts in Washington.

“We need to look at assessment fees so we can have enough money in the future to run this department,” Adams said.

“We must find a way to stabilize our budgets.

Commissioner Kevin Shea said there should be a workshop to discuss the idea to discuss the matter further.

The chief noted that in other communities where assessment fees have failed, the public was not involved.

Minutes before the subject came up, Kathy Kruse of Lehigh, said during the public comment period that the people of Lehigh need to understand the fire department and suggested that the department, its commissioners even visit local service clubs and organizations to get the word out about the dire need for money over the next few years.

Shea said he understood that real estate was facing another 10 to 30 percent loss in valuation in Lehigh which would mean less income from landowners in their ad valorem taxes.

Board Chairman Jeff Berndt noted that fees could “ratchet the millage rate” and even offset it with a flat fee.

The suggestion of imposing an assessment fee to landowners in Lehigh is not new as Ralph Hemingway, a member of the previous board of commissioners, brought it up a few times, but fellow commissioners didn’t show any interest.

“We need to let the public know we are in a hot seat regarding revenues,” said Commissioner David Adams and Commissioner Linda Carter agreed that the board needed the input from the citizens and business people of Lehigh.

Carter made a motion to create an advisory committee who get ideas from the public including those who own businesses in Lehigh and offered that the board should not be any larger than 15 members. Larger groups can be too many, he said.

It was suggested that the public in Lehigh who may be interested in offering their input into future financing of the fire department prepare resumes and send them to the fire board and at the next board meeting in May, perhaps a committee can be formed.

Members of the fire board include David Adams, Larry Decker, Jeff Berndt, Linda Carter and Kevin Shea. Decker, Carter and Shea were elected in the last election.

The motion gained momentum in the discussion and was seconded by Commissioner Larry Decker. The board’s attorney suggested that the subject be put up on the website of the Lehigh Acres Fire District.

Before any type of assessment fee can become law, it must be voted on by the residents of Lehigh at the polls. State Statue allows for assessment fees in addition to ad valorem taxes, but the question must be put on the ballot.

Meanwhile, commissioners agreed with the chief that Station 104 at 3102 16th Street, one of the two newer fire stations, needed interior expansion space for a meeting room.

The task could be done by members of the fire department and would mean knocking down some walls and coming up with a room that Fire Marshal Kenneth Bennett said could hold about 35 people. The chief estimated the cost of materials to be around $4,300.

A motion was made and seconded and approved by the board by a 4-1 vote. Presently for the past several months, the board of commissioners has met at the meeting room at the Microtel Inn on Business Way.

The chief said it takes close to two hours to set up tables and equipment for the meeting and there is a $50 cost for the room. Meetings are held there at 4 p.m. on either a Tuesday or a Thursday.

Chief Adams also asked the board to consider waiving a fee for permits by the Viva! Lehigh concert group which is set for April 30 at Veterans Park. When asked, he told commissioners no formal application had been made on paper and commissioners said they would not okay the wavier.

Adams told the commissioners that the staff was beginning to prepare next year’s budget and it was then that Commissioner Kevin Shea said he believes property values in Leigh were going to decline even more and that should be taken into consideration in the preparation of the budget.

The financial situation at the fire department, like many others, is bleak and a consultant made that point in a report two months ago.

The SAFER funds which enabled Chief Adams to rehire several firefighters back last year runs out in August of 2012. Without added revenue to the department, the chief may be forced to make a decision for layoffs again. Nobody believes the SAFER grant will bail out the department this time around.

And with additional revenue such as assessment fees, the fire department could find itself crippled financially and even insolvent, it has been reported in the past.