Lehigh Acres Fire Dept withdraws request for help from FEMA for Fire Stations 101 and 104

Fire Station 101 was nearly destroyed during Hurricane Irma and the Firefighters living out of a double wide mobile home. But on Feb 9, 2019 someone at the Fire Dept withdraw the applicants request from FEMA for Project # 04708 for Station 101 because the department received a total payout from their insurance company of $600,000 for all the damage on that station.  But it’s going to cost the district nearly 4 million dollars to rebuild that station.

The department also withdraw request for Project # 01651 for Station 104 because of Insurance payout.

The department has been mismanaged for years. The insurance policy was set to 70’s standards not today standards for firehouses. The department was way, way under insured during hurricane Irma.

Fire Chief Robert Dilallo will not admit to this incredible mismanagement. But he has told others he knew about the situation and new documents show that the department has now fixed this issue in the tune of new higher cost of insurance for the faculties.

During the recent election that the fire department wanted to raise an additional 10 million dollars a year. Questions were raised about FEMA reimbursement but the Commissioners would not talk about it or were playing dumb.

The Fire department has had four projects all already obligated for payout from FEMA and the State of Florida. But to date the Lehigh Acres Fire has only ask for three of the checks.

Project # 8705 for Station #105 – Thomas Sherwin Ave – ($3,750.00 federal share, $1,250.00 state share total of $5,000) as of March 14, 2019 this project is obligated.

Project #30888 Public utilities – Station #102 – Homestead Blvd. ($3,750.00 federal share, $1,250.00 state share total of $5,000) as of March 13, 2019 this project is obligated.

A check for $10,000 was sent over two weeks ago. But to Anita Kressel the Finance Manager of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control & Rescue District on June 19, 2019 be email states, “Currently we have not received money from FEMA.  We do have several projects open from hurricane Irma that are awaiting payment.”

Project # 8390 Emergency protective measures – Temporary Fire House Trailers for stations 101 and 102 ($103,153.31 federal share, state share $33,846.69 total of $137,000) as of May 7, 2019 this project is obligated.

The Fire Department should be receiving this check within the next two weeks.

But Project # 5529 that was obligate by FEMA as of March 10, 2019 Emergency protective measures – 100% federal share ($289,942.16 federal share) to date the fire department has not ask for the reimbursement.

The Commissioners and the Fire Chief know about all these reimbursements prior to the election on June 5, 2019. Project # 8705 obligated on March 14, Project #30888 obligated on March 13, Project # 8390 obligated on May 7 and Project # 8390 for $289,942.16 obligated for payment on March 10, 2019.

So is this a form of mismanagement in The Fire department?

Also, according to FEMA, the Lehigh Acres Fire Department has two other requests in:

Pending Essential Elements of Information

Project # 47657 Direct Administrative Costs – ($29,301.75 approximate costs) as of February 6, 2019 this Project Worksheet is pending Essential Elements of Information.

In Final Review Queue

Project # 8617 Public utilities – Station #103 – Gunnery Road – ($3,750.00 federal share, $1,250.00 state share total of $5,000) as of February 25, 2019 this Project Worksheet is an applicant signed project.

It’s not FEMA that is dragging their feet it’s the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District. WHY?

Because it’s easier to get the taxpayer to cough up the money.

Currently the department is debt for the amount $10,413,468.63. For the following 225-0903 FCB Loan for Bunker Gear and Staff Vehicles ($429,468.63), 225-0905 FCN Engine loan ($1,084,000.00) and Synovus/FCB Construction Loan for $8,900,000.00.