UPDATE ON BRINGING ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS) TO EAST MANATEE FIRE RESCUE.

The Fire Commission did not vote on ALS tonight.  Instead, the Chief is gathering additional information such as costs and such as requested by Fire Commissioner Foss to accurately present his proposal to the Fire Commission on bringing ALS to EMFR, supplementing the ALS services provided by EMS which can be critical when life saving procedures could be the difference, especially in those moments when EMS is delayed arriving on scene.

The Chief anticipates having the information gathered by the September meeting for the Fire Commissioners to vote whether to go ALS and if so, which proposal to undertake.

The topic of ALS has been before the Fire Commission since at least February, and as of the last meeting, only one citizen had spoken up against it during public comments, making the majority of the speakers in favor of ALS.

Tonight, however, an East County resident AND employee of East Manatee Fire Rescue and a retired East Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter both spoke during public comments opposing ALS, primarily because they do not want to pay higher taxes.  HOWEVER, in all of the meetings to date, nobody on the Fire Commission nor the Chief have CONFIRMED a tax increase would be necessary to implement ALS.  Tax increase or no tax increase, Lakewood Ranch is growing in leaps and bounds and our public safety services are vital to the survival of the residents of all parts of the county, INCLUDING EAST COUNTY and MYAKKA.  I would hope all of the Fire Commissioners of East Manatee Fire  Rescue recognize that and VOTE YES next month.  If we are goi g to continue building, we need to keep up with the services that meet the needs of the residents.  If this matters to you, please let your presence be made s
at the next meeting.