LARGO – Fire Chief Mike Wallace announced that the city will end paramedic service in Belleair Bluffs in two years.
Wallace said Belleair Bluffs has agreed to ending Largo's management of the department with appointment of its own fire rescue chief.
Belleair Bluffs hired Largo in December 2001 after firing its fire chief. Largo has since provided management and administrative services, fire inspections, community education programs and paramedics.
Acting Chief Karry Bell was subsequently fired after a confrontation with a Belleair Bluffs firefighter. Bell allegedly was investigating a union grievance when firefighters claimed Bell used offensive language. Norton “Mac” Craig, Largo’s city manager, reportedly didn't believe Bell's denial and fired him.
Wallace said that while he was prepared to go ahead with the management of the Bluffs department he was uncomfortable. He said it was difficult for a Largo department head to also report to the Bluffs' mayor.
The chief said a Dunedin fire officer, Patrick Competelli will apparently be the new Chief of Fire Rescue in the Bluffs.
Wallace said Competelli would take over the management of his department but Largo would continue to provide paramedics through September 2010.
He said that allows time for the Bluffs to acquire certified paramedics of its own.
Changes are also under way at the other end of Largo, Wallace reported. He said the county is considering changing the way it pays Largo and Pinellas Park for providing emergency services in the High Point area.
Currently, property owners in the unincorporated parts of this fire district must pay the entire cost for emergency services. He said that isn't fair to those property owners as the two cities continue annexing land in the district, leaving fewer property owners to share the burden.
Wallace explained a complex funding system the county is using for the fire district, dating to when the unincorporated areas of the county had absolutely no fire or rescue services.
“We would literally stop at the city line and watch,” he said. “We had to stand by when we were needed to protect property or lives.” Eventually, he said, volunteer fire companies were created and the county paid for their operation by property taxes paid by those served by the volunteers.
Then, he said, in 1983 the volunteer departments were replaced by full-time services, some provided by Largo, the rest by Pinellas Park. Now, he said, the county has tentatively agreed to expand the Largo Fire District to include those areas of High Point it already serves under contract with the county.
In return, the city would receive more county money toward its overall budget, he explained. He said the county contribution would rise to 23 percent of the city department's budget, compared to its current level at 17 percent.
This would increase the county contribution by about $100,000 per year, he told the commission.
