Mount Dora Firefighters sound alarm over City Manager’s newest proposal

It’s déjà vu all over again for Mount Dora firefighters.  

In August the first responders raised alarm bells over public safety concerns after Mount Dora City Manager Patrick Comiskey proposed consolidating the City’s fire department into one station, which he said could be built on Limit Avenue.

That consolidation would significantly increase emergency response times and put residents and structures at risk, according to the Professional Firefighters of Mount Dora Local 3088 in a September interview.   In August, those concerns were also presented to Mount Dora City Council by Interim Fire Chief Rich Loewer at a public meeting.  At the time, it seemed many members of the Council understood the consequences and sought better alternatives.  

Fast forward to last week, and Comiskey recommended yet another plan to consolidate the Mount Dora Fire Department, but this time he proposed puting all fire personnel and equipment at the existing Donnelly Street station.   The new strategically located fire station that is nearing completion on S.R. 19A would instead house the City’s electric department, according to Comiskey’s proposal.

Today, the Professional Firefighters of Mount Dora Local 3088 loudly sounded the alarm in a letter to the Mount Dora City Council.   The detailed communication states that the same public safety issues and best practices were ignored in Comiskey’s newest recommendation which the firefighters union said was based on misinformation and a flawed rationale.   At greatest risk of slower response times are the residents and businesses on the west side of the City near the Eudora Road corridor, according to the union’s leadership.. 

The proposal is part of Comiskey’s attempt to realign city resources to save money. however, the firefighters disagree with putting public safety on the table.  Comiskey’s current proposal and the firefighters’ response letter can be viewed here:

comiskey_oct._11_proposal.pdf
File Size:	272 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---

mount_dora_firefighters_union_response.pdf
File Size:	364 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---

A work session for Mount Dora City Council to discuss the matter is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, at 6 p.m.   A vote on the matter is expected to be taken at the following regular City Council Meeting on October 18.  Both meetings are at Mount Dora City Hall.
​​​​​
For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​Be sure to follow  Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.

Sign up for Mount Dora Buzz

Paid political advertisement