09/16/2026
FIRE STATION #3. The fire station located at 2750 Summit was one of the oldest fire stations in the city. In 2004 it suffered substantial damage due to Hurricane Ivan, but regardless the men and women who were trained first responders kept working, kept putting out fires, kept answering emergency calls, kept helping citizens like me when my mom needed assistance getting back in the bed. They kept doing what they always do - looking out for the needs of the residents. But, their government was not looking out for them. Fire Station #3 could have been rebuilt with LOST funds, Series 3. But it took getting LOST 4 series and borrowing the funds against LOST 4 to get the station rebuilt. In 2011, when I first took office there was only $65,275.00 left in LOST 3. The council hired a consultant to evaluate the building. The report only examined what was visible. The contract made it clear they were not going behind the wall. So, the problem persisted. The fire fighters kept working and the union president kept complaining. I went there in 2015 to see for myself and what I found was shocking - black mold and water stains through out the building. I decided enough was enough. I drafted an emergency ordinance that required the city to immediately take action to remove people from the building and to rebuild Fire Station #3. At the January 14, 2016 agenda conference two councilmen tried to get the item removed, but I fought back insisting the item go forward to the regular council meeting. At that meeting I pulled the item but don’t know why and the video of that meeting is missing. However, in March of 2017, the council held a workshop for LOST allocating $3 million to rebuild Fire Station #3, per my request.
The larger issue is related to the political campaign going on right now over LOST ( local option sales tax) that requires a sales transaction.The state of Florida has a 6% tax, but allows local governments to add an additional tax if voters approve it. You no doubt have seen a lot of signs posted in front of banks and realtors offices. Even the government is showing you pictures of projects that were built with LOST. What they are not showing you is the truth. Fire Station #3 could have been rebuilt years earlier with Series 3 funds, but those in charge had other priorities. Before you vote to tax yourself for the benefit of banks and realtors do you due diligence. Ask yourself if you trust the government.