Pasco: Moon Lake firefighters seek merger with Pasco

Moon Lake firefighters seek merger with Pasco

Officials say the move should not increase fire protection costs for most homeowners.

By JAMES THORNER

MOON LAKE -- Faced with shortages of money and volunteers, Moon Lake Volunteer Fire Department has asked to merge with Pasco County Fire Rescue.

For most people living in the 6-square-mile fire district bounded by Moon Lake Road, Randee Road and State Road 52, the merger will increase services without increasing costs.

The volunteer department collects donations of $20 per household each year. By joining Pasco's taxing district, homeowners would pay $1.40 for every $1,000 of a home's taxable value.

Few residents would pay more than the current $20 after excluding a $25,000 homestead exemption, said David Akers, the department's chief for the past six months.

"I think the county merger would be better for everybody, especially the community," Akers said Tuesday, a few hours after county commissioners voted to provide emergency fire protection for Moon Lake pending a formal merger.

Akers said the department's reputation has suffered from poor training and lack of money. According to the terms of the merger, the 15 volunteers would continue to staff the fire station on Moon Lake Road.

Pasco would take over dispatching from the volunteers and send paid firefighters into the district from stations near the River Ridge subdivision and on SR 52.

Akers said the county has promised to boost training for volunteers, pay off Moon Lake's debts and maintain the volunteers' trucks and equipment.

"We're still going to be here. We're not going anywhere. We're just going to be county funded," Akers said.

The county and the volunteers negotiated the merger over several months, although closing the deal requires the consent of a majority of firefighters, Akers said. Moon Lake averages about 600 calls a year.