Saint Leo adds a little extra for fire protection

Increasing its $10,000 contribution by $1,500, the town matches funding the volunteer department is getting from San Antonio.

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 11, 2000

SAINT LEO -- Town commissioners on Monday agreed to add $1,500 to their $10,000 contribution to the San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department, mirroring a San Antonio city contribution and completing a compromise reached last week.

The municipal governments of Saint Leo and San Antonio got tangled in discussions this summer over how to support the volunteer department. The department's chief, Troy Newton, complained San Antonio backed out of a deal to help secure a new truck.

But after meetings involving all the players, San Antonio commissioners agreed last week to pitch in the $10,000 Newton originally requested plus $1,500 more when it appeared equipment costs were higher than anticipated.

Saint Leo commissioners, already committed to the $10,000 figure, went ahead and added $1,500 as well on Monday.

Commissioners from both boards are scheduled to meet in a joint workshop in January to determine whether the communities are paying their fair shares for fire protection.

Also at Monday's meeting, Saint Leo commissioners welcomed their new town planner, Linda Pearson of the Tampa firm Engelhardt, Hammer & Associates.

Pearson said she will prepare a list of grants the town could apply for and will start exploring how the town might want to react to increasing residential development in the area.

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