The voters approved the Fire Fee Assessment in November of 2014 and the current fire board approved the purchase on Dec 16, 2014 and the check was cut Jan 29, 2015 for $748,551.00 or $249,517 each. The first of the new units arrived to station 102 April 20, 2016. Click here to read purchase order from the Fire Department.
Just remember for those who pay property tax in Lehigh Acres we also pay Lee County for the some services.
Commissioners approved the allocation based on long discussion and questions on purchasing cheaper EMS Units back in 2014,LHAFD Operations convinced most Board members that these units would last much longer than the cheaper units. Three ambulances were required due to the dilapidated condition of the existing ones. If you recall Operations asked for (4) ambulance’s, Board conservatively approved only(3). All our meetings are open to the public to question or bring up issues. If you had an issue ONE YEAR AGO, you could have questioned the Board at that time? You timing is highly suspicious.
Your contention that Lehigh Acres citizens are paying for the same service twice is a fraudulent statement, but if you can present proof of this please provide to all the Commissioners or if you cant prove this, your respectively requested to pull this fraudulent and misleading article.
The Lee County General fund and Lee County Unincorporated – MSTU that all the Lehigh Acres property owners pay into pays EMS services in Lehigh Acres. This not just limited to buying new ambulances hiring new EMT / Paramedics.
So the taxpayers are double taxed when it comes to EMS services in Lehigh Acres.
According to Lee County between April 6-19, 2016, there were 15 standbys, where EMS sent resources to Lehigh Acres because there were no ambulances available. And there were 16 responses by EMS ambulances in Lehigh Acres’ service area.
All Fire Districts/City Departments have something called MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS. You should familiarize yourself with this arrangements sometime. Lee County Emergency Services responses are based on needs of the all communities and provide equipment no matter where its required. If our District is overwhelmed with calls then Lee County emergency services will DIRECT assistance in our area. This is so all areas of the county are covered for fire/medical responses. I think this system works fine and therefore there is no double taxation. There is double coverage and not double taxation. Are you proposing that the District dissolve the arrangements with Lee County?? Double taxation for the same services would be unlawful, but if you still feel this is the case, I recommend that you contact the State Attorneys office post haste.
You already knew these commissioner, Lehigh Acres gets double taxed for EMS services you need to call Rob Farmer and or Pete Winton with Lee County to find out the facts.
A mutual aid agreement between department’s is one thing. Being taxed twice for the same services is totally different.
Having an agreement between department’s for coverage is just that. An agreement between department’s. Why should the taxpayer have to pay two taxes to two different entities because You two decide to contract for coverage?
Do I pay taxes to two different entities for the same service?
If I do. That is double taxation.
I may have to call the state attorneys office.
Be careful what you wish for.
The Lee County General fund and Lee County Unincorporated – MSTU that all the Lehigh Acres property owners pay into pays EMS services in Lehigh Acres. This not just limited to buying new ambulances hiring new EMT / Paramedics.
So the taxpayers are double taxed when it comes to EMS services in Lehigh Acres. Call Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann’s office if you don’t believe me.
Tony
Fell free to call me anytime. My house number is 674-3744. I would like to remind you that I am a tax payer also and agree that double taxation is unlawful and has no place in our community. Editor is allegedly spreading invalidated rumors to be defined as TABLOID NEWS COVERAGE to politically benefit his campaign for the very public office he attacks. If I thought double charges were occurring I would jump on it and stop this travesty. I once again invite the originator of this allegation to contact the State Attorneys office to validate, but he wont because his accusations are baseless.
Why have you suppressed my comments? I answered your complaints and now your suppressing my responses. So much for Free Speech. I have copy of my response and will seek other venues to get it out to the public. Have a nice day.
We are NOT suppressing your comments we were waiting for public records request from Lee County