Jeff Nikell

The Lehigh Acres Fire District has named an advisory board to consider assessment fees as a way to help finance the fire department’s future operations, but not until after one of the commission members had objected to the appointment of four of the applicants.

Chief Don Adams also announced the promotion of Jeff Nickell who will be the logistic manager. His job becomes a civilian position at the board. He was involved in the last layoff.

The Fire District last month had invited residents to serve on the advisory board and hoped to get 15 people as members, but only eight applied, and after Commissioner Kevin Shea changed his mind and apologized, all eight members were voted by the board as its new advisory panel.

During the meeting Commissioner Linda Carter, who was ill, and did not attend the meeting, but spoke and voted via cell phone placed next to a microphone so all could hear Carter’s comments.

Members of the advisory board include Robert Anderson, Steve Baker, Frank Lohlein, Hartmut “Harry” Kloppety, Cathy Kruse, Ralph B. Hemingway, Frank LaRosa, and John Boardman.

Most of the members have not attended recent meetings of the fire board.

Only two attended last week’s meeting. They included Anderson and Kruse, who has a son who is an employee of the fire district.

At the April’s meeting, Chief Don Adams asked the board to create an Advisory Board for educating the public about fire assessment fees.

“We need to look at this fee to stabilize our budget. There will be a fixed dollar amount put on vacant land, residential homes, and commercial buildings,” Adams said.

“There are many different ways of doing his. This fire assessment fee will be in addition to ad valorem tax,” he said.

Adams noted that the committee will only look at the assessment fee feasibility, and not the budget.

If there are others in the community, who would like to serve on the assessment fee advisory board, they should send a resume to Chief Don Adams and the names would have to be approved by the commission.

Anderson said he knew there are ways the fire district could save money and admitted that he had not attended recent meetings.

“You’re broke,” Anderson said pointing his comments to the board and to the chief and his staff.

“You all have to fix these problems and I have some solutions.” He made the statement despite the fact that the chief had said the advisory board would have not be asked to participate in budget matter.

There were questions raised by the board whether or not members of the advisory committee could be removed if they disrupt the meetings.

Fire District Attorney Richard Pringle said members of the advisory board could be removed and new members could be added at any time.

Commissioner Shea said he could not support an addition of assessment fees.

He noted that the population in Lehigh was struggling and admitted that the ailing income was also affecting him.

“People go to the grocery store and when they see how prices have risen they are in a stake of shock. Insurance rates have gone up, gasoline prices have gone up.

“I’m counting pennies and a lot of others, most of Lehigh’s residents are in the same condition. I do not think they can afford more taxes to support the fire department. I’m even considering stopping the subscription of my daily paper,” he said.

“People have to cut, cut, cut, to survive,” he said.

Board member Linda Carter suggested that everyone be given the same assessment fee and that it be equal for everyone, including unimproved lot owners, residential and businesses.

None of the other board members commented as how they felt about assessment fees.

Anderson, one of the two advisory board members present, said at the end of the meeting that there was no structure established and that the advisory panel needs to meet and select a chairman.

It appeared that it was the chief’s goal that the advisory board educate the people in the fire district so they would realize that if the fire department is to survive, assessment fees will have to be imposed. If the board suggests assessment fees and an amount and after the board would approve such assessment fees, the taxpayers of Lehigh would have to vote in a referendum for assessment fees as one way to help support the fire board.

One of the advisory members, Ralph Hemingway, who was not present, had suggested assessment fees before he left the board last November. He had not sought reelection.

Whenever he brought up the possibility fees, none or the other members of the board made any comments and the idea died. In fact, other board members never discussed assessment fees in public.

In a year from this August, the SAFER money awarded to the department enabled the chief to rehire firefighters that he had laid off, comes to an end. There is little expectation that the department would be awarded future SAFER monies.

Without added income other than the 3 mils ad valorem tax, another layoff may have to take place next year. Ad valorem taxes on properties have not brought in funds as in years past because properties in Lehigh had lost value and their taxes were lowered to help support the the fire department.