If the concern is living conditions, and construction to fix that is already in the works, why do we need to waste $25K on a study and delay months before addressing it? Increase the fee and fix the issue.
If the concern is living conditions, and construction to fix that is already in the works, why do we need to waste $25K on a study and delay months before addressing it? Increase the fee and fix the issue.
The belief is that if funding were being handled appropriately, the fixes would have already happened. It's a valid argument. The can started being kicked down the road 8 years ago.
The truth is the county has wasted more money with useless, costly feasibility studies (4 that I know of) and other frivolities (lawsuits) that they can't seem to put taxpayer money to good use.
In fairness to Ms. Nipper, it wouldn't surprise me at all if she was not aware of previous studies, she just took office. She saw a major problem, listened to First Responder concerns and is determined to get something done about it. However, when the comment was made at the BCC meeting last night that there is emergency/contingency money that could be used, a prime opportunity got lost in the can and its been kicked down the road again. IMO.
This problem goes back 15-20 years and was started when the county forced all the volunteer departments out of existence with the exception of Liberty and Argyle. Volunteer departments are much more cost effective (see the Liberty and Argyle budgets as compared with WCFR) and provide a reasonable service for rural areas. A tax increase for EVERY north end resident, many of whom are elderly and low income people who live on social security or low wages, of 350-500 dollars is an economic nightmare. I know people who live on 1400 or less in social security but own their homes. They cannot afford this level of taxes in addition to what they currently pay.
The problem is that the volunteer departments are not coming back so we must have a professional service. These individuals place their lives on the line serving the public and deserve competitive wages and top drawer working conditions. Currently Walton County provides neither. The stations should be expanded and modernized and there should be enough staff to provide services safely. Wages should be competitive.
This is a difficult issue because I sympathize with Sowal/DFS/Liberty/Argyle residents who pay for their own protection and most of the costs for the rest of us. I understand the frustration but this is one county and the rural areas did not ask to be stripped of their volunteer protection that was affordable.
I wonder about the span of control at the SO if another large department is added that is a discipline very different from law enforcement. The money still must come from the BCC and they could provide the funding for the stations immediately. I do not know if consolidation addresses the underlying problems.
Finally, Bobby Martin is a good man and a long-term county employee who has served the citizens of Walton County for over 30 years. I have been in his position where you cannot get needed funds but must do the best you can with what you have. I know given a fair chance he can get the department on course.
I agree and that is why an analysis of the WCFR is needed to provide the necessary funding. I can assure you that it is not getting any cheaper to do it and as long the BCC refuses to address the issue we will always be behind the standards and it won't make any difference who operates the FD, because it is all about funding.Bob your points are valid and there are areas covered by WCFR that have the tax base to provide a strong professional service. Freeport, Black Creek, Portland and Choctaw Beach come to mind. Mossy Head and Woodlawn may get there if growth continues. But the rest of the north doesn't have enough density and is not likely to achieve it any time soon. You know far better than I that in order to provide quality service a certain number of employees, apparatus, and stations per square mile are required. The large portion of the north cannot support these things without a large subsidy. I also think you would agree that it is wrong to put people in harms way without enough support and enough people.
as long the BCC refuses to address the issue we will always be behind the standards and it won't make any difference who operates the FD, because it is all about funding.
At the Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday in South Walton, our new County Commissioner Melanie Nipper asked for a feasibility study to determine whether or not our first responders (EMT and firefighters) would be better served under the auspices of the Walton County Sheriff's Office. The Board unanimously agreed to the study and several firefighters and their families spoke of deplorable conditions at their existing stations - much of which has gone on for a very long time, and in some cases, years. Many who spoke felt like they may have jeopardized their own positions to speak out about their living situations away from home.
The burning issue I have after listening to all who spoke was NOT the feasibility study (everyone agrees something MUST be done), but that the county is fixing to write a check to the tune of $175,000 for a lawsuit they knew they could not win with another one just filed against three members of the county. Plus, we also have a county commissioner who just applied for a $50,000 grant to upgrade her office and spent $6,000-plus (of taxpayer money) on her office desk, but there is no emergency or contingency money available for those who risk their lives every day for all of us?
Maybe my perspective is skewed but I think $56 thousand plus the $175 thousand the county is fixing to write a check for would have gone a long way in correcting some of the problems. Forgive me also for thinking Chairwoman Jones is going to need constant reminders the next two years that she was elected to serve her constituents first and herself last!
- Lynda Morse, DeFuniak Springs