The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Commissioners approved an additional resolution related to the proposed Simplified Fire Assessment during their Tuesday, June 30, regular meeting.

The approved Resolution 20-06-02 provides advance notice and direction concerning the impact of the passage or failure of the Simplified Fire Assessment ballot question. The proposed change to a simplified fire assessment methodology will be on the Aug. 18 Primary Election ballot.

According to Fire Chief Robert DiLallo, the resolution is in two parts and basically explains what would happen in both scenarios; if the proposed simplified fire assessment passes, or if it fails.

A LAFCRD press release provided the following notice excerpt from Resolution 20-06-02. The resolution can be read in full at www.lehighfd.com .

If the ballot question passes on Aug. 18, and the new assessment methodology is approved, the district will likely be able to afford to continue the current community-oriented assessment exemptions and the district will be able to fund the building, equipping and staffing of 4 to 6 additional fire stations over the next 10 to 12 years, which officials say would improve fire and rescue services and lower response times.

If the primary ballot question fails on Aug. 18, officials say the district will likely not have the financial ability to continue to grant the community-oriented assessment exemptions that have been granted in the past and the district may not be able to fund the completion of Station 106 or be able to keep the district’s certificate of need for ambulance services currently granted by Lee County.

The resolution also included a recommended new assessment exemption for vacant lots that are adjacent to a single-family house and owned by the same owners as the house to provide a larger residential home site. In the resolution, a home site that is comprised of multiple subdivision lots, some vacant lots, is defined as a “curtilage” and is being called the “adjoining residential lot exemption.”

“This exemption would pertain to a home owner with their house on one lot who bought up to four physically adjoining vacant lots, not exceeding one acre. That homeowner would be eligible for an “adjoining residential lot exemption” and be charged a single annual parcel rate,” DiLallo explained.

The board also discussed the news that Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the $1.25 million appropriations bill intended to be used to begin land development for the fire district’s sixth fire station. In March, the $1.25 million appropriation was approved by the Senate, but was recently vetoed when DeSantis cut more than $1 billion from the state budget before its approval. DeSantis cited the present challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic changing the economic landscape as reasons for the cuts.

“It was very disappointing and another set-back. We desperately needed this money to develop the site for station 106 and provide a temporary facility. Now, more than ever, this simplified assessment is our last shot at getting station 106. If approved, it could help the district build and staff the new station. If it does not pass, station 106 might be put on hold inevitably,” DiLallo said.

According to LAFCRD press release, DiLallo and District’s Attorney Richard Pringle cited continued support from Rep. Spencer Roach, the bill’s sponsor, regarding the continued improvement of fire and safety infrastructure in Lehigh Acres.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District has two meetings in the month of July 2020. The first meeting will be held on July 13 at 6 p.m. and a regular board meeting held on July 28 at 5 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public. Meeting agendas for the monthly commission meetings are available at www.lehighfd.com.