Ocala council alarmed about dispatch merger with county
By Susan Latham Carr
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
OCALA – The deal to merge the city of Ocala’s fire dispatch services with Marion County and the Marion County sheriff’s emergency communication departments may be in trouble before it ever goes into effect.
The Ocala City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to hold a special meeting on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss whether to continue the relationship.
The council decision to revisit the agreement came about Tuesday night when Battalion Chief Wendell Rora, who heads the city’s dispatch services, told the board he was fired on Thursday.
Councilwomen Mary Rich and Suzy Heinbockel both remember being told that everyone from the city would have a job when the county and city dispatch services are merged.
In addition, Robert Altman, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Ocala Local 2135 and one of the fire captains, told the council that a number of recent city fire calls have been dispatched first to county fire. One was the Citrus Sew & Vac fire on East Silver Springs Boulevard on Sept. 9.
“The firefighters have many concerns,” Altman told the council. “We don’t feel the people of Ocala will get the same safety and response time if we go through with this consolidation.”
The council asked to listen to the 911 tapes of the calls before it makes its decision.
By Susan Latham Carr
Staff writer
Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.
OCALA – The deal to merge the city of Ocala’s fire dispatch services with Marion County and the Marion County sheriff’s emergency communication departments may be in trouble before it ever goes into effect.
The Ocala City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to hold a special meeting on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss whether to continue the relationship.
The council decision to revisit the agreement came about Tuesday night when Battalion Chief Wendell Rora, who heads the city’s dispatch services, told the board he was fired on Thursday.
Councilwomen Mary Rich and Suzy Heinbockel both remember being told that everyone from the city would have a job when the county and city dispatch services are merged.
In addition, Robert Altman, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Ocala Local 2135 and one of the fire captains, told the council that a number of recent city fire calls have been dispatched first to county fire. One was the Citrus Sew & Vac fire on East Silver Springs Boulevard on Sept. 9.
“The firefighters have many concerns,” Altman told the council. “We don’t feel the people of Ocala will get the same safety and response time if we go through with this consolidation.”
The council asked to listen to the 911 tapes of the calls before it makes its decision.
