Okeechobee County approves contract to provide fire protection inside city limits

Posted 11/27/20

After months of negotiations, on Nov. 25 the Okeechobee County Commission voted 4-1 to approve the contract for the county to take over fire protection services...

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Okeechobee County approves contract to provide fire protection inside city limits

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OKEECHOBEE — After months of negotiations, on Nov. 25 the Okeechobee County Commission voted 4-1 to approve the contract for the county to take over fire protection services for the City of Okeechobee.

County Attorney Wade Vose explained said the contract is for a five-year, four-month term beginning June 1, 2021.

The amount the city will pay the county will be based on the same fire protection assessment structure the county uses to finance the fire services portion of Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue.

The county will hire seven individuals who are city firefighters, contingent on their successful completion of paramedic training, plus additional three city firefighters for up to two years, with the city fully funding the extra three positions.

The city firefighters who transfer to the county can elect to stay in the city’s pension plan or transfer to state retirement system. The city will transfer fire equipment to the county.

For a period of two years, Okeechobee will let the county use the city fire station building to store vehicles and equipment. During that time, the county will pay for water, sewer and power services for that building.

The county will provide quarterly reports to the city detailing the number of fire protection service calls and response time within the city limits.

The county will make every reasonable effort to respond to calls in the city limits within the established standards, Vose added.

The city fire department started out with 12 firefighters, said Commissioner Brad Goodbread. “We’re taking 10. Did the other two opt not, or did they quit? I’ve said since day one, I don’t want anybody to get hurt because of this.”

Vose said the county commission made it clear they would take as many employees as the city is willing to fund.

County Fire/Rescue Chief Ralph Franklin said the city currently has a total of 12 certified firefighters, including the chief.

“We reached out to the city to let them know whoever wants to come over to put in an application,” he said. “Two of the firefighters did not apply.”

“I just want people know the way I feel. I have not been flip-flopping on this, regardless of what you read on social media,” said Commissioner Bryant Culpepper. He said he has opposed the proposal since the start because he does not want the city to lose its identity and because city residents were not allowed to vote on it.

“The City of Okeechobee is 100 years old. It’s a lot of history,” said Goodbread. “I would like to see the history of the city fire department preserved.” He suggested some kind of memorial or display. “I suggest we do something to put on display the history of the city fire deparment.”

Commisson Chairman Terry Burroughs suggested that Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford Jr. tackle that project.

Commissioner Kelly Owens said she has expressed concerns from the beginning. “This is going to cost us money,” she said. “I want to remind everybody we are hiring seven paramedics, and the EMS costs have not been addressed in the contract.

“The level of service for the community as a whole is probably going to improve,” she added. “As a county commissioner, I have to make sure the safety of the community is being addressed.

“At some point the assessment rates are going to have to come up for us to continue to provide this level of service,” she added.

Culpepper was the lone “no” on the vote.

county commission, fire protection, city, firefighters

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