ROBINSON  LEADS LOBBYING EFFORT FOR FIRE TRUCK FUNDING

2023 January 30

The Cedar Key Fire and Rescue Service is always vigilant in preparation to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Cedar Key and the surrounding area. With this goal in mind, Chief Robert Robinson, with the support of Mayor Heath Davis and Volunteer Phil Prescott, attended a Florida State Legislative Hearing on January 20, 2023, in Bronson.

The hearing was convened by State House Speaker Pro Tempore Chuck Clemons with State Senator Keith Perry in attendance. The purpose of the hearing was to present justification for appropriations requests for the upcoming 2023-2024 Florida State Legislative Budget. Chief Robinson spoke to the delegation emphasizing the importance of the legislation appropriating $1,200,000 for a new arial (ladder) truck for the Cedar Key Fire and Rescue Service. The response to Chief Robinson’s presentation drew questions and advice from the delegates that clearly indicated interest in supporting the request.

The new arial truck is important for several reasons. The current arial truck is thirty years old. The Insurance Standards Organization, which rates communities for safety and protection, requires arial trucks to be no more than twenty-five years old. Additionally, the same organization requires a community with five structures of three stories or more to have an arial truck. Currently, Cedar Key has over sixty structures of three stories or more. If these standards are not met, the cost of homeowners insurance for Cedar Key is in danger of rising.

Another consideration in the purchase of a new arial truck is mutual aid. Each of the Fire Services in Levy County have an agreement to aid one another should the need arise. There is no other arial truck located in Levy County. This arial truck can mean someone in a neighboring community will be safe.