“We’re looking at a nine to 12 minute response time which we’re not comfortable with,” said Chief Douglas Riley
City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told city commissioners, High property costs are making it hard to find suitable land in North Lakeland for a new fire station. But city’s 2022 budget includes $1.8 million to buy land in north Lakeland for a fire station.
Sherrouse went on to say, Unfortunately, some of the properties that we have taken a look at and had discussions with property owners have been a little out of reach in terms of cost.
Sherrouse said, Fire Chief Riley and Special Projects Manager Jason Willey continue looking for property.
The city was interested in some county-owned land for a station and proposed a land swap with Polk County, but county officials were not interested.
Records show that Chief Riley alerted commissioners to the need for a relocated station to serve north Lakeland and reduce response times during a strategic planning meeting in spring 2019.
The city should purchase two rescue trucks to better serve their community.
The chief has said on occasion the addition of a rescue trucks and their personnel would have many advantages, including a cheaper cost, less maintenance and the need for less fuel.
Renting a space in the southwest and the north as a two man rescue trucks stations for medical calls which will free up four men fire truck for other calls until proper stations can be built.
Mayor Bill Mutz said a determination of response times would go into a decision on where to place the new fire station.
LFD’s response time will continue to be impacted as the following projects begin construction in the southwest part of Lakeland:
- Gresham Trails, slated for 321 single-family homes
- Parkway Preserve with 300 apartments
- Amazon’s expansion of a 64,000 square-foot cargo sorting facility and truck bays
- Lakeland Central Park, a 740-acre industrial complex
We as a community could learn something from Saga Stevin.
Saga Stevin comments:
The city of Lakeland has annexed acres and acres of county property over the years increasing tax revenue. At the same time failing to provide these annexed resident’s proper fire protection.
The city’s primary job is Public Safety. Everything else falls below Public Safety in the city’s budget.
The city must find the resources to properly protect our citizens. If that means to not fund discretionary, beautification, community, arts. Etc. for a while to get our citizens properly protected, then that is what we need to do.
Lakeland is one of the two fastest growing cities in America.
It is common sense to grow the Fire and Police (Public Safety) to keep up with the growth of our community. We need to be pro-active not re-active.
Our Fire Department is already in dire straits with response times – as witnessed by the recent 14th Street fire.
The number one job of the city is unequivocally Public Safety.
That includes Infrastructure associated with public safety. Such infrastructure needs to grow with the city – and right now Lakeland Public Safety is behind the times.