West Manatee Fire Rescue district commissioners met May 21 to discuss the purchase a new marine rescue boat and construction of Station 4.
Chief Tom Sousa reported to commissioners that preliminary schematic designs for the rebuilding of Station 4 would be presented at the June meeting.
According to Sousa, the architects plan to be available at the meeting to discuss the designs. After looking at comparable stations in the region, Sousa said he is working with the architects and engineers to bring down construction estimates.
Commissioners approved $5,000 to start the process to allow the district to borrow up to $2 million for the construction. Because a timeline has not been set for the work, commissioners asked Sousa to leave any contracts with an open-ended start date.
“We don’t want to make payments on money we don’t need to use yet,” Commissioner Randy Cooper said.
Sousa also said he and the committee researching the possibility of purchasing a marine rescue vessel traveled to other fire rescue districts to look at their boating operations.
Sousa is scheduled to present a marine rescue plan, including varying rescue scenarios, as well as the deployment and rescue capabilities of a new boat.
Crown Castle representative Julie Weston appeared before the commission to present a new cell tower lease for execution and a check for $83,294 to cover overdue rent on the tower at Station 2 on Cortez Road.
Commission Chairman David Bishop joked, “I want a big billboard check.”
Weston laughed, holding the check in the air. “I recommend this one,” she said. “You can take this one to the bank.”
The payoff is the result of more than a year’s work on behalf of the district and Crown Castle to revamp an outdated lease agreement. The new lease earns the district $44,000 a year in rent payments.
In other board matters:
• Bishop declared the week of May 24-May 31 as Beach Safety Week.
• Commissioner George Harris was excused from the May 21 meeting due to his plan to attend his son’s graduation from West Point Military Academy. Commissioner Al Robinson was absent without excuse.
• Sousa plans to work with county emergency dispatch management to create a benchmark for the time between when an emergency call is answered and first responders are dispatched.
• WMFR is changing its fixed-asset policy to meet state standards. Items worth more than $1,000 or more will be considered capital assets. Previously, the minimum was $500.
• Bishop thanked deputy Chief Brett Pollock and everyone who assisted in the April 30 change of command and former Chief Andy Price’s retirement celebration.
The WMFR commissioners will next meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.