[UsuallyLurking]

(This note is presented as an example of the complexities of life and governance in The Villlages, as shown in the recent thread on amenity fees and the lengthy explanation provided by Don Wiley, AKA GoldWingnut.)

In response to a query from a District 4 supervisor, the following update was provided to the Board. It can be found in the agenda packet for the August Board meeting, under old business:

"This facility [Fire Station #42, located on Belle Meade Circle in the Marion County section of The Villages] houses a Battalion Chief and is an active Fire Station. When the Fire Station #41 [located at the intersection of 466 and Morse] renovation is completed, this station will be taken out of service, signage removed and converted to a VPSD Logistics Storage Facility."

As part of the whole business surrounding the creation of a fire district, the mutual aid agreement between Marion County and The Villages Fire Department (TVFD) was revisited. The mutual aid agreement as it now stands states that the VPFD will respond to callouts in Marion County when requested by Marion County dispatch. The quick response vehicle at Station #41 was replaced with one of the nine on-duty ambulances available to VPFD at the rollout of assuming transport service.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting last Friday, the deputy district manager said that an analysis indicated that the relatively few calls for service from Marion County did not justify keeping station #41 open as an active fire station. (If needed, support can be provided by TVFD stations on or near 466 -- the one at Morse and another one, one block south, next to Belvedere.)

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Editorial comment: It is good that people are gathering and actually paying attention to various aspects of providing service to the community. There can be arguments made about the wisdom of the decision noted above as well as whether budgetary pressures may have influenced the decision. However, I will stick with my very narrow focus noted at the top that life is complicated in The Villages and only getting more so. Decisions big and small can have unforeseen and should-have-been foreseen impacts. To move from the farthest north of The Villages to the south, an argument could be made that the decision to not create a PWAC II had an impact on the size of the assessment increase in District 14.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by UsuallyLurking

(This note is presented as an example of the complexities of life and governance in The Villlages, as shown in the recent thread on amenity fees and the lengthy explanation provided by Don Wiley, AKA GoldWingnut.)

In response to a query from a District 4 supervisor, the following update was provided to the Board. It can be found in the agenda packet for the August Board meeting, under old business:

"This facility [Fire Station #42, located on Belle Meade Circle in the Marion County section of The Villages] houses a Battalion Chief and is an active Fire Station. When the Fire Station #41 [located at the intersection of 466 and Morse] renovation is completed, this station will be taken out of service, signage removed and converted to a VPSD Logistics Storage Facility."

As part of the whole business surrounding the creation of a fire district, the mutual aid agreement between Marion County and The Villages Fire Department (TVFD) was revisited. The mutual aid agreement as it now stands states that the VPFD will respond to callouts in Marion County when requested by Marion County dispatch. The quick response vehicle at Station #41 was replaced with one of the nine on-duty ambulances available to VPFD at the rollout of assuming transport service.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting last Friday, the deputy district manager said that an analysis indicated that the relatively few calls for service from Marion County did not justify keeping station #41 open as an active fire station. (If needed, support can be provided by TVFD stations on or near 466 -- the one at Morse and another one, one block south, next to Belvedere.)

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Editorial comment: It is good that people are gathering and actually paying attention to various aspects of providing service to the community. There can be arguments made about the wisdom of the decision noted above as well as whether budgetary pressures may have influenced the decision. However, I will stick with my very narrow focus noted at the top that life is complicated in The Villages and only getting more so. Decisions big and small can have unforeseen and should-have-been foreseen impacts. To move from the farthest north of The Villages to the south, an argument could be made that the decision to not create a PWAC II had an impact on the size of the assessment increase in District 14.

Station 10 less than 2 miles away. Station 10 at B/V and CR 42 quite busy. IMO flowers need to go before any fire stations.

[Kenswing]

I think Station 42 lost its quick attack (pickup truck) when all the ambulances came online. Why keep a station open that has just a Battalion Chief? There are two Battalion Chiefs on duty. Battalion 42 and 47. They both respond to every fire call. Does it really matter if one gets repositioned?

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

But I like the flowers!

[scubawva]

It’s not uncommon for fire stations to close as others open. Older stations don’t house the new, larger equipment as well, house crew as well, support the response time and a host of other factors.

The types of Calls for Service changes over time. Population changes.

The size of apparatus has increased significantly - an engine of today might not fit in a bay door of 20 yr ago. Retrofitting a station to accommodate todays needs usually not cost effective, especially if the footprint can’t be enlarged.



One thing to understand is the difference between mutual aid and automatic aid between departments. It’s a distinction of importance when ISO ratings, which directly affect HO insurance rates. I suspect, although don’t know for sure, that Marion County has more rural areas, stations far alart in some areas.

Nothing new or concerning about closing a station when a new one opens that serves the same first due area.

While life in The Villages might have it complications, fire station usage isn’t one of them. Dont make it so. This is SOP.