Bcc Moved Fire/ems

To clarify, transfer is for (North) Walton County Fire Rescue, fire protection and EMS, affecting unincorporated area north of the bay plus Freeport and Paxton. Does not affect South Walton Fire District or the independent fire districts north of the bay.

The Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted today to turn supervision and control of the Walton County Fire/Rescue over to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, currently led by Sheriff Michael Adkinson. The official switch of control will be at 7am on Wednesday, April 26th. The vote, however, was split by a 3 to 2 margin. Those voting in favor of the change were Commissioners Cecilia Jones, Tony Anderson, and Melanie Nipper. Those voting against the change were Commissioners Sara Comander and Bill Chapman.

The Sheriff’s Office has already absorbed the Walton County Jail, Animal Control, 911/Emergency Communications and, in July, announced the takeover of the Department of Children and Families in Walton County. Though that consolidation is pending legislative approval, Sheriff Adkinson said in July, “It’s expensive, it’s difficult, it’s a political nightmare, but, It is the right thing to do.”

While the constitutional duties of Florida Sheriff’s do not specify firefighting and EMS operations as part of those duties, Chapter 30 does state Sheriff’s are obliged to “Execute all orders of the boards of county commissioners of their counties, for which services they shall receive such compensation, out of the county treasury, as said boards may deem proper and to perform such other duties as may be imposed upon them by law.” Currently, only two of Florida’s 67 counties have consolidated firefighting and rescue operations under the Sheriff; Broward and Citrus Counties. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, whose office took over fire services in 2003, told WZEP, “The consolidation has been beneficial, and I believe public safety is enhanced. The merger has improved communications between deputies and firefighters and allows us to work together every day and train together, which gives us an advantage when responding to critical incidents.”

WZEP AM 1460 (source)

To clarify, transfer is for (North) Walton County Fire Rescue, fire protection and EMS, affecting unincorporated area north of the bay plus Freeport and Paxton. Does not affect South Walton Fire District or the independent fire districts north of the bay.

Thank GOD!

The Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted today to turn supervision and control of the Walton County Fire/Rescue over to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, currently led by Sheriff Michael Adkinson. The official switch of control will be at 7am on Wednesday, April 26th. The vote, however, was split by a 3 to 2 margin. Those voting in favor of the change were Commissioners Cecilia Jones, Tony Anderson, and Melanie Nipper. Those voting against the change were Commissioners Sara Comander and Bill Chapman.

The Sheriff’s Office has already absorbed the Walton County Jail, Animal Control, 911/Emergency Communications and, in July, announced the takeover of the Department of Children and Families in Walton County. Though that consolidation is pending legislative approval, Sheriff Adkinson said in July, “It’s expensive, it’s difficult, it’s a political nightmare, but, It is the right thing to do.”

While the constitutional duties of Florida Sheriff’s do not specify firefighting and EMS operations as part of those duties, Chapter 30 does state Sheriff’s are obliged to “Execute all orders of the boards of county commissioners of their counties, for which services they shall receive such compensation, out of the county treasury, as said boards may deem proper and to perform such other duties as may be imposed upon them by law.” Currently, only two of Florida’s 67 counties have consolidated firefighting and rescue operations under the Sheriff; Broward and Citrus Counties. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, whose office took over fire services in 2003, told WZEP, “The consolidation has been beneficial, and I believe public safety is enhanced. The merger has improved communications between deputies and firefighters and allows us to work together every day and train together, which gives us an advantage when responding to critical incidents.”

WZEP AM 1460 (source)

This was a huge mistake by the BCC.

I hope I'm wrong, but don't think I am.

What's next for WCSO, trash collection from Waste Management?

All this is will be a resume builder for Mike if and when Adam Putnam is elected Florida Governor. Watch (Mark this post)

ABSW should take note of this and re-tune their approach at incorporation....

Like most things where the sheriff is concerned, I think you are wrong.

I'm fairness people think I'm wrong about lots things too.

I don't think it's wrong for North Walton to want professionally run services. The bottom line is if the sheriff can't produce better and improve conditions and services the BCC can always take it back and he said today that if he can't turn things around he would gladly hand it back to them. He also said he would work with existing budgets and grants.

"He also said he would work with existing budgets and grants."

Only time will tell...

I am glad that NoWal with get some service it feels was necessary, but please note this date as an I Told You So Day in Walton County.

He just brought an ex-State Dept of Ag Guy on board paying him $120K + when many of our local men and women deserved that spot....

Politricks at its best in Walton.

Although my participation in the "Study" was mentioned as well as Bonnie McQuiston, Frank Day and Mike Flynt I feel that I actually had no part in the development of Report.

I was invited to only 1 meeting - the SWOT analysis. The balance of the report was done internally by the Sheriffs office. I personally do not believe that the transfer does anything to resolve the issues other than "leadership".

The transfer will not:

1. Reduce response times
2. Solve the staffing issues
3. Lower the fire rating for residents
4. Improve the facilities or
5. Provide advancement opportunities for employees

Those things are only improved with an sustained increase in funding. The Sheriff offered no vision concerning the funding levels. He stated he could work with the current budget until the new budget cycle was completed.

Once again the North Walton residents have not been consulted concerning the level of professional service they are willing to fund.

It appears that the BCC wants to rid itself of the management of a vital service rather than addressing the funding issue directly.

It appears that the commissioners are trying to provide a urban level of service in a rural setting with no funding source identified.

I thought the "Study" provided by the Sherrif was worth exactly what the commission paid. Nothing !

Although my participation in the "Study" was mentioned as well as Bonnie McQuiston, Frank Day and Mike Flynt I feel that I actually had no part in the development of Report.

I was invited to only 1 meeting - the SWOT analysis. The balance of the report was done internally by the Sheriffs office. I personally do not believe that the transfer does anything to resolve the issues other than "leadership".

The transfer will not:

1. Reduce response times
2. Solve the staffing issues
3. Lower the fire rating for residents
4. Improve the facilities or
5. Provide advancement opportunities for employees

Those things are only improved with an sustained increase in funding. The Sheriff offered no vision concerning the funding levels. He stated he could work with the current budget until the new budget cycle was completed.

Once again the North Walton residents have not been consulted concerning the level of professional service they are willing to fund.

It appears that the BCC wants to rid itself of the management of a vital service rather than addressing the funding issue directly.

It appears that the commissioners are trying to provide a urban level of service in a rural setting with no funding source identified.

I thought the "Study" provided by the Sherrif was worth exactly what the commission paid. Nothing !

Bob,

In January when this originally went before the BCC they voted for yet another feasibility study. Sara Comander pointed out there had been at least 5 feasibility studies done and the BCC did nothing with those except kick the can down the road a few more years. Mike Adkinson stood to speak and offered to do the in house study that was done. The BCC (ALL 5 Commissioners) agreed to that.

Now Chapman wants to have his cake and eat it too because he wasn't happy with the study they agreed to do because it didn't suit his agenda.

You're right about one thing though, the North end wasn't represented in that study (by design I'm sure) but the North End was well represented by the guys who put their lives on the front lines at that meeting today.

With the exception of myself, Danny Glidewell and Gordon Porter (who I have not seen at ANY County Commission meeting in YEARS) no one else from the north end (if anyone was even there) stood to speak for or against moving FIRE/EMS under the Sheriff even though it was a public meeting and well advertised.

The complaint I heard most often today was ALL about the money. What the WCTA and others who were so concerned didn't talk about were...grants that have NOT been applied for in YEARS that could have gone a long way in addressing some of the money issues and ya know the funny part about that? The man who should have known (Bobby Martin) couldn't tell anyone in that room when the last time was that the County even bothered to apply for them with the exception of the 2 grants that have just recently been applied for. Really? Leadership huh?

I also heard about the little old lady living in rural Paxton who can't afford to pay more money but what NO ONE bothered to mention (until I brought it up) was that the little old lady living in rural Paxton, on a fixed/low income pays less than Danny Glidewell does because of tax breaks offered through the County Tax collectors office. Those same tax breaks are offered to an 83 year old friend of mine living on a fixed income very near the circle who pays almost nothing! My 84 year old father however, doesn't qualify for those tax breaks because his income is higher. The little old lady didn't attend the meeting either so, evidently she had no dog in the fight.

I'll grant you the little old lady's house in Paxton would be reduced to embers before FIRE/EMS got there but even Danny accepted the fact his home would also be reduced to embers because of where he has chosen to live.

As for Gordon Porter, cry me a river! His complaint was paying almost 800.00 a year but he wasn't complaining when the County built a private road to his opry house or all the other shenanigans he pulled as a County Commissioner and got something for nothing, nor did he complain about Station 11 being built not far from him. His place would also likely survive a fire because of his proximity to the Station.

NoWal had a chance to show up and show out today and evidently couldn't have been bothered. Maybe for good reason, maybe they recognize that we need organization, safer working conditions, better administration and better living conditions for the folks who put their lives on the line for us everyday.

Throw that 50 thousand dollar feasibility study money Chapman would have had the taxpayers spend today at the Sheriff and see what he can do to improve conditions...I'm sure he'd appreciate it. The BCC has kicked the last 5 of them down the road for years and the situation got worse!

Most people cannot attend BCC meetings during the day because they have to work. Now they will need to work even more because taxes will have to increase in order to pay for the wish list that the union and Sheriff's Office wants. Bob Hudson is exactly right, the "study" was not worth the paper it is written on and Bill Chapman has been in the business of public safety long enough to know that. I still think an independent study should have been done and that North Walton citizen participation should have been solicited. North Walton citizens have never been consulted about what they want as far as fire and ambulance service. It is all warm and fuzzy to say that you want a fire department that can save everyone's house if it catches fire and that you want dozens of new employees and new equipment and better located stations and great training opportunities and all the other stuff that has been mentioned but no one wants to talk about reality. Reality is that what was done today is simply transfer management of the current operation. Nobody wanted to talk today except Bill Chapman and Sara Commander about how to pay for all this stuff. To support a well-funded paid fire service you need population densities over 5000 per square mile. North Walton currently has about 50 per square mile. The MSBU tax will not yield enough money to fund the current budget, much less the wish list,even if you increase the tax to 10 times its current level. Take it from property taxes? Sell that to the citizens of South Walton who already pay for their own service plus the majority of the North Walton service. Unless someone has a money tree those are the options. I was told today that I was right about my concerns but not to worry that the Sheriff can get the money. Truth is that those funds come from the BCC either way but what is about to happen is that the taxes will be increased and the Sheriff will take the blame for it instead of the commissioners. IMHO it is a sad day for North Walton residents, the employees, county taxpayers in general and the Sheriff's Office. The only winners are the county commissioners who can now blame someone else when the other shoe drops. I applaud Sara Commander and Bill Chapman for wanting to fix the problems instead of passing them to someone else.

This is the "capital" expenditure budget request that was submitted by Mr. Martin for 2018-2022. This does not included "personnel cost" or other operational costs. Notice that the funding source is "loans".

The other shoe will drop soon !

Buckle up Buttercup !

Let's see...The County, thru TDC, spends millions $$$$$ to keep us covered up with too many tourists while they borrow money to provide for basic services. NICE.

Lynda

For all of your talk about 83 year old's and their hardship in paying there FIRE ASSESSMENT there are EXACTLY 4 - that have filed for and received a "hardship exemption".

That's not a typo it's 4 (Four) !!!!!

Hope Commissioner Comander read how many have filed for the exemptions.
Also is Commissioners Jones and Anderson going to be given some credit for their vote. Depending on what side you are on this issue.

Lynda

For all of your talk about 83 year old's and their hardship in paying there FIRE ASSESSMENT there are EXACTLY 4 - that have filed for and received a "hardship exemption".

That's not a typo it's 4 (Four) !!!!!

It's not because it isn't available Bob!

P.S. Bob it wasn't my talk either! I never brought up the little old lady in Paxton that would have been Sara Comander and I think Danny Glidewell threw in a comment about it as well.

The entire point is that those tax breaks are available for anyone who qualifys! People just have to get up off their lazy backsides and get it done. Yes, it means a trip to the courthouse but don't complain when you don't avail yourself of services offered.

Ya know, I've said this before but I guess may I should keep saying it because people don't seem to "get it".

The County just spent almost 2 million dollars (I'll grant you space was needed) but perhaps NOT that space to purchase property in Freeport, to keep themselves in nice cushy offices, yet firefighters and EMS crews are living in trailers, in less than desirable conditions, with less than adequate staff and less than adequate equipment as well as leadership.

Yet, if you do a sunbiz.org search on who actually owns that property common sense might tell you this was payback for votes & favors to help 2 maybe 3 county commissioners get themselves elected. Hmmm. Ya think?

I've also said and will say again that until we have open honest government operated in the Sunshine and Suzanne Harris doesn't have to sue the County for millions to bring them into compliance, maybe there would be at least adequate funding so that FIRE/EMS didn't have to borrow money.

Maybe if the BCC weren't so hot damn worried about splash pads for kiddie parks and those types of grants to spruce up their backyards and spent more time applying for grants that should have been applied for years (at least 8) to FIRE/EMS this could have been avoided? Maybe?

Maybe if a certain Commissioner had not frivolously spent $6000.00 in office furniture and cushy accommodations for herself...

Maybe just maybe if PEOPLE STOPPED voting for the baffoons and stopped recycling the garbage...

Bottom line is all those lawsuits and all these frivolous property purchases, all these favors, all these paybacks for votes COST money and yep you're right Bob Hudson the taxpayer foots the bill.

I can sit here all day and mention incidents of waste and abuse of taxpayer money (how bow dat $300.00 legal bill?) but I hope I've made my point.

Until we elect better it ain't going to get no better!

Might not get better but definitely going to get more expensive.

And yes people do get it - just not everyone !

P.S. Bob it wasn't my talk either! I never brought up the little old lady in Paxton that would have been Sara Comander and I think Danny Glidewell threw in a comment about it as well.

The entire point is that those tax breaks are available for anyone who qualifys! People just have to get up off their lazy backsides and get it done. Yes, it means a trip to the courthouse but don't complain when you don't avail yourself of services offered.

But you brought it up here !!!!

But you brought it up here !!!!

Sure did...it was a part of the BCC meeting yesterday.

Most people cannot attend BCC meetings during the day because they have to work. Now they will need to work even more because taxes will have to increase in order to pay for the wish list that the union and Sheriff's Office wants. Bob Hudson is exactly right, the "study" was not worth the paper it is written on and Bill Chapman has been in the business of public safety long enough to know that. I still think an independent study should have been done and that North Walton citizen participation should have been solicited. North Walton citizens have never been consulted about what they want as far as fire and ambulance service. It is all warm and fuzzy to say that you want a fire department that can save everyone's house if it catches fire and that you want dozens of new employees and new equipment and better located stations and great training opportunities and all the other stuff that has been mentioned but no one wants to talk about reality. Reality is that what was done today is simply transfer management of the current operation. Nobody wanted to talk today except Bill Chapman and Sara Commander about how to pay for all this stuff. To support a well-funded paid fire service you need population densities over 5000 per square mile. North Walton currently has about 50 per square mile. The MSBU tax will not yield enough money to fund the current budget, much less the wish list,even if you increase the tax to 10 times its current level. Take it from property taxes? Sell that to the citizens of South Walton who already pay for their own service plus the majority of the North Walton service. Unless someone has a money tree those are the options. I was told today that I was right about my concerns but not to worry that the Sheriff can get the money. Truth is that those funds come from the BCC either way but what is about to happen is that the taxes will be increased and the Sheriff will take the blame for it instead of the commissioners.

Most people can't come to BCC meetings because they work....yet, if their house was on FIRE or someone in the house needed EMS, I'd bet work would take a backseat! (Same difference when you're talking about protecting your home.)

Bill Chapman went along with the in house study, he doesn't get to pi$$ and moan now because he didn't like the outcome.

Sara Comander and Bill Chapman both (especially Sara) who has been on the BCC for how many years Danny(?) have had ample opportunity to work on the issues associated with FIRE/EMS and how many feasibility studies got kicked down the road while Sara has been in office 5 or 6? (She brought that up herself.)

IMHO it is a sad day for North Walton residents, the employees, county taxpayers in general and the Sheriff's Office. The only winners are the county commissioners who can now blame someone else when the other shoe drops. I applaud Sara Commander and Bill Chapman for wanting to fix the problems instead of passing them to someone else.

I agree with you in part. It's sad it had to come to this to get the problem fixed. I'll reiterate Sara has had years and Chapman is on his second term and this has never been a priority! Applaud them for what? Kicking the can down the road again like has been done with the last 5 or 6 studies? Yeah...OK.

What improved today ?

Same firemen
Same stations
Same response time
Same equipment
Same funding level

Oh wait - the Sheriff said on Tv tonight he needed 180 days to develop a plan.

Lynda

Just as a side note. The Sheriff also stated he would work to have 4 men per truck soon.

Are you aware that South Walton Fire District does not meet that standard.

Response from SWFD

No sir, not as a standard. We meet the NFPA standard and our own with 3 per engine.

What improved today ?
Oh wait - the Sheriff said on Tv tonight he needed 180 days to develop a plan.

Moral!

And it didn't take 180 days.

P.S. It was instantaneous once the board voted.

Hope Commissioner Comander read how many have filed for the exemptions.
Also is Commissioners Jones and Anderson going to be given some credit for their vote. Depending on what side you are on this issue.

To answer your question about credit being given... NO!!!
I've always said, give the devil his dues, but for this duo , NO!!!
Past sins are too great! No credits! No Pardons! Stay tuned Bob, there's always a motive! WAIT FOR IT....