Single Fire District For Manatee County Discussed At Tuesday

MANATEE-- The controversial issue of creating a single fire and rescue district for Manatee County was discussed in the quarterly Council of Governments Meeting at the Civic Center in Palmetto Tuesday afternoon. The issue, which would require a law to be passed by state legislators in Tallahassee, is causing some uneasiness among firefighters in the nine fire and rescue districts in the county.

County Administrator Ed Hunzeker opened the discussion on Tuesday’s agenda item on  consolidating all the fire and rescue districts into one single entity with the exception of Bradenton and Longboat Key’s departments which are run by those two cities. Hunzeker noted that it would ultimately be the State’s responsibility to determine how the fire and rescue districts would be divided.

Commissioner Joe McClash, who broached the issue at a recent commission meeting said, ”A single fire district would achieve some sort of efficiency particularly with fire codes.“ Proponents of the idea believe it would also create a more standardized chain of command structure and consistency of service to Manatee County.

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston commented, ”We have no dog in the fight, but why would we do this? Bigger is not necessarily better“, he said.

East Manatee Fire Commissioner Garry Lawson was the lone representative from the approximately two dozen members of all the Manatee County fire and rescue districts who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting. ”We’re here to provide the best level of service“, he said. Mr. Lawson requested that all fire districts have a permanent seat for representation at future Council of Government meetings. The request was approved through a motion and vote by the Manatee County Commissioners.

The single fire district issue will most likely be brought up at future county commission meetings. Florida Senator Mike Bennett has also been approached with the proposal. He has not yet announced a formal opinion on the issue.

Other items discussed at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting were a 2011 Legislative session preview by Manatee County Information Outreach Coordinator Nick Azzara and a County-wide Film Commission Ordinance which would simplify permitting for film and television production in the county.