During the last fire board meeting three of most giving not for profits in Lehigh Acres learned that they will have to pay the fire assessment fees.
The Jaycees, Kiwanis and New Life Assembly of God Church had representatives at the meeting and all three learned that will have to pay fire assessment fees.
During the meeting Chief Wayne used property examples one of those examples was New Life Assembly of God Church. When the church was shown the Pastor stood up and said “that’s my church”, the Fire Boards attorney Richard Pringle said “that the way it is” you need to talk to the Lee County Property Appraiser’s office if there is an issue.
The group of not for profits also learned that some not for profits such as Lehigh Community Service has the same Department of Revenue codes as the Jaycees and Kiwanis but will not have to pay the fire assessment fees.
Even Fire Commissioner David Adams got frustrated during the meeting when he could get straight answers from Pringle,
Did the Fire Department lied to the community to get this tax passed? Did Chief John Wayne actually lie to the community and in the letters he personally wrote to the churches and not for profits?
Now the fire board and Chief is telling us if the bill is incorrect we must go to the Lee County property appraiser’s office but we just learned that is also a lie too.
If you call the Lee County property appraiser’s office: “The Lee County Property Appraiser’s office does not administer the Lehigh Acres Fire Fee Assessment and is unable to answer any questions about it. If you have any questions or concerns the fire district may be contacted by phone at 239-303-5300, by fax at 239-369-2436, or by email at firerescue@lehighfd.com.”