Letters to the Editors

Pertinent fire district issues overlooked

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 24, 2000

There have been too many confusing articles published in the local newspapers concerning the Sept. 5 referendum for an independent special fire district in East Lake.

I would like to address the two major issues for East Lake taxpayers and East Lake firefighters. These two issues have been overlooked during the bandying of numbers between individuals for and against independence.

The issue that has been overlooked for the East Lake taxpayer is the 60 percent drop of maximum fire tax millage that is obtained with independence. The current maximum cap for fire tax in East Lake sits at a whopping 10 mills.

As an independent special fire district, the maximum cap for fire tax would drop more than 60 percent to 3.75 mills.

The other overlooked issue deals with a human aspect.

East Lake firefighters do not have the same protection from risk on the job as the 19 other fire departments in Pinellas County. Why? Because in 1999 Florida's attorney general interpreted the law that dependent fire districts are not eligible for state-funded protections and privileges.

The 19 other fire departments in Pinellas County have long-term disability, communicable disease coverage, a pension program and federal death benefits. East Lake firefighters do not.

This issue of independence means protection for the firefighter and his/her family from risks of the job and basic benefits provided by the state.
-- Jason Gennaro, Local 1158, East Lake Professional Firefighters

Article failed to highlight vital aspects of fire issue

Re: Independence inflames fire district talks, Aug. 13 story.

I don't know what meeting Times staff writer Rob Farley was at because he failed to even quote from the program presented. All he did was quote one commissioner who was not even present, and some negative statements from a former commissioner (voted out over six years ago) who is opposed to anything and everything concerning the East Lake Fire District.

Mr. Farley also used several quotes from a county employee, (Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Services and Fire Administration) Dwaine Booth, who has opposed everything every fire department in the county has tried to do to improve themselves.

In addition, this employee has been opposed to independence for East Lake from the beginning even though the county administrator and the County Commission initiated and voted unanimously to present this independence bill to the state Legislature.

During the program it was explained that the East Lake Fire Department already has certified fire marshals qualified in commercial plan review and fire investigation without increased cost to the department. Yet this article quotes opponents to independence as saying it will cost the district an additional $25,000 to hire a certified fire marshal.

Why did he not publish the information about monies saved on liability insurance premiums that would be reduced if the district becomes independent? Independence creates the district as a state entity with a maximum liability of $200,000 versus the $3-million to $5-million insurance we must now carry.

Why did he not publish the fact that if an East Lake firefighter were to be killed in the line of duty now, his surviving children would not be afforded the opportunity to attend a state university free as do surviving children of every other firefighter? Why did he not publish that the East Lake firefighters do not receive federal death benefits of $150,000 if killed in the line of duty because there is no commercial policy available?

This article was extremely unfair to the East Lake taxpayers who are trying to intelligently decide how to vote on the Sept. 5 independence referendum.
-- C.G. "Chuck'" Schult, fire commissioner, East Lake Tarpon Fire Control District

Old police building could serve as city hall

A course in Politics 101 is needed for some members of the City Commission. As I recall, the last city election afforded the voters the chance to vote for or against three commissioners only. I do not recall seeing a referendum for or against a million-dollar city hall or community center. To read anything else into the results is pure ignorance.

At one time I thought perhaps a new city hall might be necessary. But that was before the city's police department was given away. The former police department building is now vacant and could be remodeled for a lot less than $1.7-million. And additional parking is not needed. Further, we would not be encroaching into residential areas.

Our city is only three-fourths of a mile square; therefore, every resident is affected by any large-scale construction. To say an elected commissioner has no right to vote on any construction issue not only shows ignorance, it shows arrogance.

The taxpayers of Belleair Bluffs would be better served if the elected officials would review and remember the Sunshine Law.
-- Barbara R. Jonas, Belleair Bluffs

Stories unfairly raised suspicion about good people

When I first saw the photos and headlines about Oldsmar City Council members Ed Manny and Dave Tilki and architect David Wallace, I thought it was some sort of sick joke, just a silly article that couldn't be serious.

However, with the followup, I gathered that someone had a grudge to settle. I don't know anything about Oldsmar politics, but I must speak out when the church family starts being attacked in the media.

It is so sad when longtime friendships are attacked and suspicion pointed at people just enjoying lifelong friendships, doing things as friends and then extending those friendships into concern and good for their church and their town. We aren't talking thousands of dollars here. We are talking about a friend, blessed with a resort property, saying, "Come on down for a couple of days" to people he has known and done things with for years!

We first learned of the Sands of Islamorada resort in the Florida Keys when David Wallace stood up last year and offered three nights to For Haiti With Love to use as an auction item to raise money for a Christmas party for the poorest of the poor in Haiti. What a wonderful gesture.

We later learned that the Wallaces often give these packages to charities for fundraisers and even to people they meet who are in the service business and obviously need a holiday and can't afford one.

Wouldn't it be nice if the media had the time and personnel to look into the motives behind these attacks before they print such hurtful articles?
-- Eva DeHart, Palm Harbor, For Haiti With Love

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