City Commission has the Power to do Silly and Costly Things

On the dawning of a brand new day, there is never hope of going back unless you consider the memory. That's what has happened to having our own fire department as it will be hard pressed for us to ever have our own fire department again. It was a bad vote from a city commission in power then but we are used to silly votes from every commission in power. Usually it ends up costing us millions. We can vote in one commission change and the change ends up just as bad as what we just thought we improved. This happens over and over. It has nothing to do with their good intentions going in. All of those elected have that.

I believe that our present commission is just plain overwhelmed with work--general meetings, special meetings, workshops galore plus that weekly one-on-one with the City Manager. All of their time is taken leaving little time to read or understand the backup. A two hour weekly meeting with the city manager is insufficient to completely understand the issue and make a determination that affects our lives and pocketbooks, that is if you really want to maintain those checks and balances.

Nationally 70% of all fire companies are volunteer and 50% of those volunteers are over the age of 50. We, however, had a commission that voted to lose total control of its own professional fire department and going to PB County. We ended up giving a truck to Haiti. Our fire department was always funded through the general fund including the fire pension. This is how it should be funded, not through a lie to grab the cash for other purposes. This commission just does not understand that. It is easier to believe that we just don't have the money to pay for that pension.

The Citywide Vehicle and Surplus Equipment Auction was held last weekend at the Public Services' Garage. The City made $153,000. Included in the sale was a 2000 Pierce Fire Engine that sold for $85,000. No time to research the cost new but I would bet even selling at this price, we took half of its worth at that auction. At least we didn't just give it away as some on a previous commission wanted us to do.

Photo of a Pierce 2000 fire truck that looks like the
one Lake Worth just sold off