[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

If you're in Marion or Lake County all you pay towards The Villages Fire Department is $124. That's why you can't vote on the Independent Fire District. Oh, forgot about the 5 bucks for the stupid smoke alarm battery changers.

The reason residents of Lake and Marion county can't vote for the IFD is that they are not within the boundaries of the IFD. The results of the IFD vote do not directly affect them.

There are interlocal agreements between those counties and the VCCDD (?) today and there will be agreements between those counties and the IFD if it passes.

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

If you're in Marion or Lake County all you pay towards The Villages Fire Department is $124. That's why you can't vote on the Independent Fire District. Oh, forgot about the 5 bucks for the stupid smoke alarm battery changers.

You got me confused on this one...... why do you think the Villages Public Safety Dept. employees that change smoke detector batteries for some of our older residents are STUPID?

Public Safety Smoke Detector Program

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

And vote NO if you realize that the present system is working and you don't want to buy a pig in a poke that will increase your taxes.

The system, until purchase of ambulances for The Villages wasn't working. I guess you missed my comment about up to 2 hour wait times prior The Villages PSD purchasing ambulances. I for one am happy to pay a little extra for a quick response if I'm having a heart attack. Apparently you are willing to wait. VOTE "YES"!

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Keep in mind that when you get dumped at the ER of the Villages Hospital on El Camino Real you could very well wind up waiting 12 hours, only to finally get misdiagnosed and sent home to die. That's what happened to me, fortunately my wife got into her car and drove two days non stop to come pick me up and bring me to a real hospital in Gainesville, with very little time to spare.

I am all for quicker response time, assuming there is a decent and competent place to be brought to, but what difference does it make if you wind up at the Villages Hospital?

And that is the reason you, the PATIENT, have a choice about which hospital you wish to be transported to~

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Yes, you do have a "dog in this fight". The new IFD will cover ALL of The Villages, not just Sumter County. To allow a few curmudgeons to put ALL of us in Marion and Lake County at risk is not right. Their out right hatred of the "developer" affects us all. I prefer a system NOT controlled by one County board. Simply look at what these people gave us with the Sumter Commission 2 years ago. Vote YES for safety.

I don't have a dog in this fight, because I don't get to vote on it. Y'all vote however you feel will serve the three counties - including non-villagers - best. Or vote however you think it'll serve yourself best, and to hell with everyone who doesn't live under the Villages bubble because their needs don't matter.

I offer my opinion. But I have no actual authority to back my opinion up with a vote. You do.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I would not trust most people to know how to operate an organization like the VPS or lifesaving services. The county has experience with it, people who are specially trained to handle it, know about it, know what to do, what not to do. Especially when it comes to handling the services for the entire county, not just a singular community in that county - no matter how many people live in that singular community.

There are thousands of people living in Sumter County, who do /not/ live in the Villages. They need to have reliable, trustworthy, efficient service too.

If you vote "yes" you'll be putting 100% of the authority and trust to do the RIGHT thing - not just what's best for you personally - in the hands of a real estate developer (and his family) who has no actual experience in handling medical or fire emergencies.

And that is the reason there will be a board supervising the VPS agency. After 2 years the "elected" (versus appointed) members (majority of the board) will be selected by voters. I also believe we have a strong Chief (Chief Cain) that does an outstanding job of provided awesome and timely delivery of emergency (and non-emergency) services to the residents.

Also, apparently the county did NOT have enough experience in running a fire and EMS department...or we wouldn't be having the conversation. Once again I will point out extremely long time delays for the AMR ambulances the county provided. I would also be willing to believe there are talented people in The Villages that have the ability and knowledge to manage the new VPS department.

Your point about the remainder of the county needing reliable and timely service is also an important issue. However is it my responsibility to pay for the fire/EMS services to the rest of the county? If one were to follow recommended staffing standards produced by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) you would see that response times should be 8 minutes or less 90% of the time. Wonder how many fire stations would be needed to be built and constructed to meet this standard in the remainder of the county? You willing to pay for that? I'm very pleased with the service delivery the VPS delivers in a TIMELY way.

Originally Posted by midiwiz

While I understand that just about any city you look at this is how it is funded, Sumter/wildwood have their own FD....

With that said - this is actually a "feature/amenity" and should be looked at by "the developer" as a marketing investment/write off.

Maybe you should stop by the Wildwood Fire Department and read what the name on the side of the fire truck is.....It's not "Wildwood" it's "SUMTER".

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

That is my point. Think about a Yes vote as if you were buying a business. Would you buy a business knowing as little about it as we are being told about the new fire district?

If buying a business, I look for the most competent and experienced management team.

[kaniess]

A Yes vote ensures that Sumter county won’t be able to combine The Villages fire department with the rural department serving the rest of the county. Those who always want to stick it to the Developer want to stick it to the Villages residents with potentially inferior fire and ambulance service.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

And vote NO if you realize that the present system is working and you don't want to buy a pig in a poke that will increase your taxes.

So is the million dollar sidewalk under construction for close to a year now along 44 to connect two trailer parks roughly a mile apart an example for how the FD will be managed under Sumter County Management?

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

If you're in Marion or Lake County all you pay towards The Villages Fire Department is $124. That's why you can't vote on the Independent Fire District. Oh, forgot about the 5 bucks for the stupid smoke alarm battery changers.

Originally Posted by Mrs.Guy

You got me confused on this one...... why do you think the Villages Public Safety Dept. employees that change smoke detector batteries for some of our older residents are STUPID?

Public Safety Smoke Detector Program

Hey Bily, where does the 5 bucks idea come from??

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Altavia

So is the million dollar sidewalk under construction for close to a year now along 44 to connect two trail parks a mile apart an example for how thre FD will be managed under Sumter County Management?

That sidewalk was not built by Sumter County or its management.

It was approved by our Project Wide Committee and managed by the Villages management team. Somehow that team could not keep the price from increasing multiple times.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

That sidewalk was not built by Sumter County or its management.

It was approved by our Project Wide Committee and managed by the Villages management team. Somehow that team could not keep the price from increasing multiple times.

Are you sure that's the same sidewalk? I am not aware of any sidewalk along 44 near the Villages and the recently opened path is not a mile long

[jump4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I would not trust most people to know how to operate an organization like the VPS or lifesaving services. The county has experience with it, people who are specially trained to handle it, know about it, know what to do, what not to do. Especially when it comes to handling the services for the entire county, not just a singular community in that county - no matter how many people live in that singular community.

There are thousands of people living in Sumter County, who do /not/ live in the Villages. They need to have reliable, trustworthy, efficient service too.

If you vote "yes" you'll be putting 100% of the authority and trust to do the RIGHT thing - not just what's best for you personally - in the hands of a real estate developer (and his family) who has no actual experience in handling medical or fire emergencies.

Amen!

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

That sidewalk was not built by Sumter County or its management.

It was approved by our Project Wide Committee and managed by the Villages management team. Somehow that team could not keep the price from increasing multiple times.

No, the sidewalk in work from roughly Village Dr @ Parkwood Oaks Mobile Homes to past Heritage Blvd.

Essentially across from Brownwood Hotel and Brownwood.

I've not been able to find any info on that project.