If members of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District thought they were going to get an easy answer last week from State Rep. Matt Caldwell, who lives in Lehigh, concerning the way the department taxes residents, they were in for a disappointment.

Caldwell, who had been asked to appear before the fire board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27 to answer questions about the possibility of establishing an assessment fee through state legislation instead of the present ad valorem tax system, to keep the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. from going broke.

Caldwell said it was too late anyway now to do anything or try to make any changes through the legislature.

“I think you are going to have to wait until the session of 2014,” Caldwell said. And if the matter was decided that assessments fees could be considered, it would have to go on the ballot in 2016 for the people to approve or disapprove. He noted that that any changes in legislation would first have to go to the local legislative delegation to be considered.

Presently the fire district receives its revenues from ad valorem taxes and from the fees it charges to run an ambulance transport service. More money comes in from the ambulance transport business because of the poor economy which has caused taxes on properties to decrease in value, resulting in homeowners paying less in ad valorem taxes.

An unscientific poll taken over the past year indicated that Lehigh voters were against paying an additional assessment fee. If their ad valorem taxes were removed, they could feel differently, some believe.

Some on the fire board wondered if the fire district could bring in revenue the way the East County Water Control (ECWCD) does, by setting a rate for residents instead of ad valorem taxes.

Commissioner Linda Carter said she believes everyone in Lehigh should be treated equally, meaning that everyone pay the same fee for fire service. Others may not agree, especially if those who own empty lots are taxed the same as those who own homes on lots in the community and other who own larger buildings that house businesses.

Commissioner Kevin Shea reminded the board that if there is a change sought in the tax lax, it would have to go to referendum.

Carter asked Caldwell how he felt as a resident of Lehigh for possible solutions about how people are taxed by the fire district. Carter asked for his help and guidance.

Caldwell said he understood the issue. He noted that the way the

East County Water Control District taxes its rateholders seems efficient for that group. But as far as an easy answer for bringing in more revenue to the fire department, Caldwell was unable to provide one.

Meanwhile, a long discussion, lasting more than 40 minutes by Carter was about CERT, local volunteers who can be called out in a disaster to help the fire department or any other agency.

Several of those who have been trained as CERT volunteers attended the meeting. It was made clear however, that CERT was not part of the fire department.

CERT is a separate entity in itself as is planned as such by Carter. She asked the community to contact her if they would be interested in becoming a volunteer for the group.

“If there was a disaster in Lehigh, I think the CERT volunteers would be important in the neighborhoods. There is no way if the situation was like it was when Hurricane Charley hit Port Charlotte that first responders could handle all the emergencies,” she said.

David Kirk, a resident of the Pinewood Condominiums of Lehigh Acres off of Homestead Rd. said there were 243 units of housing in the retirement community and that many have become CERT volunteers and Pinewood Condominiums has come up with a Unit owners Emergency Operation Plan which is available to all the residents.

The well-prepared booklet gives information about such things as preparing yourself and your family in a disaster, and the phases of operation for Pinewood CERT volunteers should a disaster occur.

It also discusses how people with disabilities would react and be helped in a disaster and how those with special needs would be cared for.

The booklet noted that the publication was not intended to be a complete disaster plan.

Lee County Emergency management officials are responsible for overall disaster preparedness in the community and should also be consulted regarding preparing for emergencies, according to the booklet.

Kirk also handed out a paper about the value of CERT to Pinewood Condominium owners in Lehigh. In it, he wrote that the CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, located in Emmitsburg, Md.

For more information about CERT, Linda Carter, who is the CERT program manager, has written a commentary that is on page 5 in today’s Citizen.