During the Lehigh Acres Fire Budget workshop on July 17, 2014 Chief Wayne said, “I’m planning on laying off 46 firefighters temporary even if the tax assessment passes.” Wayne explained to the Fire Commissioners that we just do not have the money to keep them after April 1, 2015. Wayne went on to say “We have to wait until November 2015 to hire them back.”
Wayne also admitted to the commissioners he’s had talks with Lee County EMS officials and they are planning on placing County EMS ambulance in Lehigh Acres if the assessment fails.
Scott Tuttle, Deputy Director Public Safety and EMS Chief for Lee County EMS said, “We are aware of the assessment for Lehigh Fire that is going on the Nov. 4ballot. We are working to develop a plan, should that ballot measure fail. The county will work with Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue to ensure there is continuous EMS coverage for the residence of Lehigh Acres. Lee County is responsible to ensure EMS coverage is provided throughout the county.”
Thats great news!! The only downfall is talking about rehiring them 11-2015!! Wayne why don’t you go with them your nothing but a deadbeat also!!!!
By doing this he is admitting he is over staffed.
Shall we turn this down one more decibel. Fire Chief doesn’t approve funding or removes personnel, my understanding is that the Fire Board takes recommendations from the Chief and then they APPROVE/DISAPPROVE. If I am wrong, please fill me in.
No one had the ability to predict the downswing in the economy, but the Board did have the ability and responsibility to plan ahead of any reduction in the Ad Valorem tax, which they failed to do. Instead they approved additional funding for personnel and associated equipment. That was not an acceptable or responsible. If they acted years ago, its possible that the layoffs/new assessment wouldn’t even be a factor today.
The very fact that the Board knew they had a financial problem 4 years ago and ignored the situation tells me new leadership is called for and thus the reason for me running for the Board.
I stand for responsible planning/spending according to funding available, along with as close as possible to a BALANCED BUDGET.
Change is necessary.Very few people like change, especially when it affects their paycheck. What is the answer?? You the voters can decide…use your voice!!
I said several times a lot of employees standing around laughing and playing on the tax payers expense while a few work.. The reason for the rehire in 2015 he is trying to pull off is to bring them back with a raise to boot. And start this whole thing over again!! If the first layoff worked why can’t it work again! I didn’t see any difference then or now! They still have a very very poor response time for anything if it fire or emergency!! This whole Lehigh department is seriously overstaffed and managed very very poorly.. The public needs to watch this department where ever it goes and see just what they are doing and where they are going and you will see for yourself!! Their nothing but wasteful and this John Wayne is allowing it to continue and trying to keep the deadbeats and himself Included!! I and the public need to start taking pictures and posting them of what you see them doing and the proof will speak for itself… John Wayne the public isn’t blind anymore to your lying, Your like a chameleon when it comes to telling the truth always changing to another colour that works for you!! PEOPLE YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS BUNCH!!!!!
I KNOW I’M VOTING NO FOR THE TAX INCREASE IN NOVEMBER THAT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT FOR SURE!! BASED ON EVERYTHING I HAVE WITNESSED…….
Amen to that
My dear Kyle you get more xxxxxxx every day. You wish you were a fire fighter and obviously never had the ability to accomplish this. Maybe you should talk to the thousands of people this dept has saved over the years. I for one will VOTE YES for the assessment. People please learn more about this assessment and stop listenin to this xxxxxxxx.
Frist and Last warning MICHELLE STOP calling people names.
Lehigh Acres Gazette Web Team
Mr. Editor is that a threat as you say threatening is not acceptable. Stop diverting around the main topic. yes, EMS would be liable to cover this area, the question is” will they be able to do it sufficiently and in a timely manner”. I think not. There resources are stretched as it is. I’m sure if you ask them that they would agree. Right now there are five ambulances covering this area and at times EMS has to provide mutual aide because they are all on calls (not sitting behind winn Dixie eating bon bons). Will EMS have 5 ambulances in the district? I understand there needs to be cut backs in the department but not 50 life saving fire fighters.
Are talking about our Firefighter that go to Winn Dixie, Circle K, Publix and even the Ice Cream Parlor on the taxpayers dime?
The Lehigh Acres Gazette Web Team
This department is not even busy a fraction of the time as it wants people like you Michelle to think it is!! I no more than yesterday seen 1 of the ambulance and followed them blowing red lights on their way back to the station again!! This is the Illusion they want people to see THE ILLUSION THEY ARE THAT BUSY!! I know there are legitimate calls with out a doubt but not nearly to the degree their trying to sell to the public and the waste of sending all of their equipment 2 fire engines, ambulance, 2 brush trucks and 11 employees standing around playing to a grass fire that was the size of a 1/4 acre (GET REAL)!! If it had been any larger they would have called the forestry division for it.. I’m sorry but I’m not one of the fools out there to believe this crap John Wayne is selling!! Like I said before I’ve seen better service and response time from a volunteer dept!! And let me make it clear I’m from South Florida so don’t tell me to go back up north! To the firemen you better go ahead and pack your bags because you have milked the county cow dry and you should be thankful it lasted this long!!!!!
First of all Kyle, I’m sure the ambulance had a legit reason for responding to the station lights and siren. First reason could be simple, they were responding to a walk-in medical emergency where the patient decides it is better to go to the station as opposed to calling 911. For whatever reason, patients do this. The ambulance could have been from that station, or it could have responded from a different station to which the Engine would have been providing the necessary medical service until the transport arrived. Second reason is that unlike LCEMS, these people are dual certified as firefighters as well. They may be responding to use the man power to pick up a brush truck or tender for a fire. They don’t just have extra individuals sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting to respond in these units. I’m sure your top would really blow off if you saw the budget for that amount of personnel needed. The last thing that could have happened, is that they got cancelled from the call and just happened to be close to their station. But if you don’t have all the facts, don’t make false statements. I’m sure if you went to the station and gave the time and date for the call, they could provide a brief public record of what transpired. They can’t give you exactly what happened in a medical because of that lovely law called HIPPA. As for the 1/4 acre brush fire that you are spiteful about, what kind of fire experience do you have to bring to the table. I know I will not comment on the operations of a department and staff that has decades of experience. As for you Mr. Editor, you have to look at the positives of firefighters going out into public to make purchases. Most of Lehigh Acres Firefighters live out of district, even the East Coast of FL. If they are at the store, that means they are spending money locally in Lehigh and helping the local economy. That is they are circulating Lehigh tax dollars that pay their salary back into Lehigh. They could always just keep the money they spend where they live which won’t be Lehigh or helpful to Lehigh.
Interesting comment! “They don’t just have extra individuals sitting around twiddling their thumbs waiting to respond in these units.”
They way not but they sure have a lot of time on their hands!
Numbers come from the LAFD and do not lie.
Breakdown of all calls between July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014 (numbers were provided by the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept.)
Station 101 2797 = 3.83 calls per day = .16 calls per hour
Station 102 6675 = 9.14 calls per day = .38 calls per hour
Station 103 4700 = 6.44 calls per day = .27 calls per hour
Station 104 4002 = 5.48 calls per day = .23 calls per hour
Station 105 2162 = 2.96 calls per day = .12 calls per hour
Lehigh Acres Gazette Web Team