By I.M. Stackel
The Naples Daily News
For the first time since spring 2006 when they asked fire districts to consolidate, Collier County commissioners got some sense Tuesday of the direction of the efforts, and were pleased with the progress made.
Commissioners also voted to reiterate that they want the county’s Emergency Medical Services and dependent fire districts, overseen by county government, in Ochopee and Isles of Capri to participate in the discussions, and to cooperate.
Commissioners first asked fire districts to consolidate or merge two years ago with the intention of absorbing EMS and its ambulance service.
Tuesday, Commissioner Frank Halas said he understood that EMS was to join the discussion after independent fire districts worked out a plan.
That’s not how other commissioners saw it.
“That was not my understanding at all,” Commissioner Donna Fiala firmly stated.
Commissioners then unanimously directed the county-dependent districts to fully participate, including the next, crucial stage of analyzing financial data, administrative needs and training for one unified district.
Robert Metzger, Golden Gate’s new fire chief, and Big Corkscrew Fire Rescue Chief Rita Greenberg — who is also chairman of the Collier County Fire Chiefs Association — said they hope to have all that data in 90 days.
However, the chiefs believe they need legal and organizational consultants to establish a clear chain of command and integration of the county’s current 10 fire-rescue and EMS individual departments.
Commissioners also want to arrange a meeting with elected officials from the cities of Naples and Marco Island, as well as the elected commissioners of each fire district, to make sure they’re all in agreement about consolidation.
Commission Chairman Tom Henning noted that he really hasn’t heard from the municipalities and “that’s where the rubber hits the road.”
If they can all meet and agree, Henning believes a countywide straw ballot for voters might not be a bad way to proceed.
Fire chiefs assured commissioners that they have the blessings of their respective elected officials, but commissioners seem to want to hear that from the politicians themselves. Commissioner Jim Coletta called for a joint workshop.
Next on the fire chiefs’ agenda: determining parity in property tax rates from district to district and remedying any union concerns.
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