fire board

the hurricane and drop in property valuations post-storm, 1 1061 mills has been deemed the rate Barbot reported that he, and others, have made the property appraiser aware of the issue

He noted that the 1 1061 would generate a revenue equivalent to the district's 2008 budget

Since 2008, the millage rate has increased 34% and revenue has increased 50 2%

“It is not the actual rolled-back rate,” Barbot said of the 1 1061 mills

Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul, who was in attendance for the meeting, explained that his district is facing the same problem He also spoke to the property appraiser

“They assured me that the calculations are right,” he said, noting that they are not and that he was instructed to raise the millage rate for his district to generate the lost revenue “It is what is it ”

“We are going to have an increase, as well,” Pawul added of his district's likely next millage rate

He also shared that the property valuations are set for the fire district as a whole, not for individual structures The county property appraiser and Florida Department of Revenue determines those

“Unfortunately, it's on us to explain that to property owners,” Pawul said

In his presentation, Barbot highlighted the following for the revenues and millage for the upcoming budget year: property valuations are down 34 76% from the current year; ad valorem revenue is estimated at about $5,215,296; the estimated ad valorem is a decrease of about $2,694,210 in funds from about $7,909,506 this year; and the district is liable for about $394,121 due to the tax relief

For the district's reserves, he reported that the emergency/operating fund has about $3,101,714, the apparat u s f u n d h a s a b o medical/fire equipment fund has about $167,835

He also outlined the possible funding sources for the coming year, to include: $1,597,423 with the FEMA Community Disaster Loan; a state appropriation grant of

$2 million that the district is seeking; cash carry forward from the current year; a millage rate increase; and tapping emergency reserves

Barbot provided the commission with a chart of what the 1 8753 rate would mean to property owners, from a $63 88 increase on a $100,000 assessed value, to a $1,277 60 increase on a $2 million value

Also, among the area fire districts Boca Grande, Bonita Springs, Captiva, Estero, Fort Myers Beach, IonaMcGregor, Pine Island, San Carlos Park and South Trail

1 2365 is the lowest current millage

“We have no choice but to go with the higher millage rate,” Commissioner Jerry Muench said of the 1 8753 mills, which the rest of the commission agreed with and noted that it can be lowered later

Also during the meeting, a pinning ceremony was held for newly promoted Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria In addition, a second pinning ceremony was held for newly promoted Lt Shane Grant

Also at the meeting, the commission heard about the new beach rescue vehicle in action

On July 3 at about 12:30 p m , a call came in for a trauma injury involving an adult woman on the beach near Jamaica Drive and Tradewinds Drive on the west end of the island DiMaria reported that crews responded to the scene with a fire engine and the recently purchased Can-Am beach vehicle

See SANIBEL FIRE BOARD, page 20

Sanibel fire board

“They found the patient sitting in a beach chair,” he said

“She jumped headfirst into the water and bumped her head on the bottom,” DiMaria added

He reported that the crews immobilized her to avoid any further injuries, placed her on a stretcher and transported her off the beach, where she was then taken by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation

“We were able to keep up with the engine,” DiMaria said. “And get to the patient on the beach faster ”

“ T h a t ' s w h y w e n e e d e d t o g e t a replacement,” Barbot added “And it has

From page 19 worked out great ”

In other news

∫ Barbot reported that administrative staff is speaking with two banks about p o s s i b l e f i n a n c i n g f o r S t a t i o n 1 7 2 ' s r e b u i l d o n S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a R o a d However, the goal is to receive and use state funding

FEMA is still reviewing possible funding for the project, which could be about $3 million

Staff is continuing to work with the firm SchenkelShultz Architecture on the design The original footprint proposed

Obituaries

Gavin DiMaria pins his father, Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria, during the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District's commission meeting on July 12 They are joined by DiMaria's other son, Kyler, and wife, Sarah will be reduced about 1,500 square feet to help bring down the project cost

In addition, the district will have to seek variances from the Sanibel Planning Commission

∫ Division Chief of Prevention Larry Williams reported that he continues to conduct plan reviews, which totaled about 500 for the year as of the meeting, as well as focus on fire wall installations

He also reported that he is working with the Island Water Association on the fire hydrants. Williams explained that the saltwater inundation from the hurricane has rusted and corroded a lot of parts

“So a lot of hydrants have gone bad,” he said

Williams noted that he has ordered more parts and hydrants, which cost about $3,000 each

“I think it's going to be an issue,” he said of the number of damaged hydrants.

∫ The commission voted 3-0 to make its meetings available virtually to the public and staff

∫ The district has responded to 492 calls this year, compared to 968 for the same period for 2022

“We're down about 51% this year,” DiMaria said

∫ The district participated in the city's 4th Family Fun Community Cookout on July 4 at the Sanibel Recreation Center They brought about 400 balloons for a water balloon fight with the children

“We lost miserably,” DiMaria laughed “We had a great time So that was very successful ”

∫ The following were rec-

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