Bonita Springs pushes to take over ambulance service

BONITA SPRINGS — Better service without higher taxes.

That’s the way Bonita Springs fire commissioner Ed FitzGerald presented a potential change in local ambulance services.

Lee County handles ambulance services inside the city, but fire officials have been fighting to provide ambulance services themselves. It would speed up service responses for medical emergencies, FitzGerald said.

“It’s not efficient nor is it safe,” FitzGerald told City Council members about the current operation. “It’s not acceptable to the residents of Bonita Springs.”

Council members agreed, voting unanimously to support the fire district’s pursuit. Lee County must approve the change.

If successful, the Bonita Springs fire district would receive about $1.2 million in state and federal emergency services funding that currently goes to the county.

Bonita Springs resident Kathy McGrath said she’s behind the city and fire officials.

“I’m sure the county doesn’t want to give it up because they’ll lose the revenue, but the residents will benefit,” McGrath said.

In other news, city officials:

- approved an agreement that will allow Florida Gulf Coast University’s Small Business Development Center and SCORE of Naples to have an office in the historic Liles Hotel along Old 41 Road.

That section of town was slated for redevelopment years ago. The effort fell short because of the failing economy.

- agreed to proceed with landscaping along the Imperial Parkways segment of the Three Oaks/Livingston connection.