Sumter County Fire Rescue is set to become a regional specialized agency in rescuing trapped or endangered animals and the idea makes one county commissioner wary.
Equipment, including a trailer, will be provided to the county by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Sumter County Animal Services takes the lead in animal rescues, but the agency would call on firefighters in difficult situations that require specialized equipment.
What concerns Commissioner Doug Gilpin is that the trained Sumter County responders will be required through mutual aid to help too many animals in neighboring counties as well.
“I’m not opposed to helping animals in need,” he said. “If we’re going out every time to these types of calls, then we’re spending a lot of county tax dollars.”
Commissioners unanimously decided Monday night to test the program for a year and review it again in March 2017, when they will evaluate how many calls were made outside the county.
The commission also approved an amendment to a 2008 agreement with The Villages to allow the addition of about 20 acres south of County Road 466A to Colony Professional Plaza. The change means that property on both sides of the highway will be part of the shopping center.
Sumter County’s Public Works Department was selected as one of 108 accredited public works agencies by the American Public Works Association. The honor was presented at Monday’s meeting.
Commissioner Don Hahnfeldt said the number of accredited agencies is small, considering the nation’s 3,000 county departments and tens of thousands of municipal departments.
“It reflects not just the professionalism of the department, but the pride that employees have in providing outstanding service to the county,” he said.
Finally, the commission agreed to increase life insurance coverage for employees and retirees up to age 80 instead of up to age 70. The change will be made as part of next year’s budget.
