Captiva fire board approves annual audit, more
The Captiva Island Fire Control District’s commissioners signed off on the prior fiscal year’s audit at its recent meeting, as well as discussed the initial property tax valuations released by the county office.
At the June 4 meeting, the commission voted unanimously 3-0 to approve a resolution accepting the financial statements for the district’s fiscal year 2022-23 as audited and prepared by the firm CliftonLarsonAllen. Before the vote, principal Chris Kessler from the firm presented the final report.
“There were no issues,” he said, explaining that it was a clean audit.
Also during the meeting, Pawul reported on the early property tax valuations released by the Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office that week. The district saw a 2.17% increase — $29,757,839 — over last year’s final tax roll, from about $1.37 billion to $1.40 billion, according to the estimates.
“Not what we were hoping for,” he said, noting that the Upper Captiva Fire District saw a 14.76% increase in its estimate as a comparison. “Sanibel, unfortunately, did not see those increases.”
Pawul added that he has a meeting scheduled to discuss the valuation.
He continued that the district finally received word about the FEMA Community Disaster Loan Program that they applied for. The application was approved for a total amount of $746,781.
“It’s basically, in principle, like a line of credit,” Pawul said.
He reported that the funds can only be used toward operating expenses, not capital expenses like purchasing a replacement fire truck. Also, the interest rate is unknown as it is figured in three years.
“These loans have been forgiven in the past — historically, nobody pays it back, but I have no trust in historical,” Pawul said. “It’s an option. It’s a line of credit. It may or may not have to be paid back.”
He suggested signing the agreement but not drawing on the funds without more information.
“It’s a good amount. It would definitely make a dent in our budget,” Pawul said. “If you knew 100% you were going to be forgiven, it’s a no-brainer — if you knew what the interest rate would be.”
After some discussion, a motion to finalize the loan as recommended was approved 3-0.
Also at the meeting, Pawul provided an update on the $750,000 line of credit that the district opened last year with Synovus bank to use as emergency funds in the case of another catastrophic event.
“They have said we need to renew our agreement,” he said.
Pawul explained that it is a five-year agreement, and the district’s attorney and he agree that it does not need to be renewed. Instead, it sounds like the creditor realized that it is not getting money each year.
“They say it expires. We say it doesn’t expire,” he said. “We’ve gone back and forth.”
It also wants a 90-day extension in principal, which Pawul had not yet shared with the attorney.
“I don’t think we need a 90-day extension,” he said. “In our opinion, it’s not expiring.”
Pawul reported that the attorney offered some options for moving forward.
“It’s really, how much do we want to stick to what our intent was?” he asked, adding that he needs to know if the commission is acceptable to the bank pulling the agreement, if it decides to do that.
Commissioner Jeff Brown reported that the district did not agree to pay basis points.
“I think we push back on them,” he said, adding that if the bank decides to pull the agreement, the district could turn to the Community Disaster Loan for any needed disaster or emergency funds.
The other commissioners agreed and directed staff as such.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Pawul reported that consultant Hans Wilson & Associates had to wait until June 1 to begin the seagrass study at McCarthy’s Marina to determine if a lift could be installed for the fire boat.
“So they are going to be starting their process any day now,” he said.
– Pawul reported that crew members took part in training in Fort Myers toward the end of May. The city donated a building for use and agencies from across the county had the chance to participate.
“The training itself was really good,” he said. “They guys who went said it was great.”
– The district responded to 66 incidents in May.
“More than double the month before,” Pawul said. “It’s been a busy month.”
One call involved a brush fire started by an underground LCEC electrical box that caught on fire.
“Luckily, it wasn’t up against a structure,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse.”
Another incident involved a South Seas dumpster that caught on fire.
“That one was right up against two contractor trailers,” Pawul said. “Luckily, it didn’t reach those.”
– Pawul reported that a resident has a foundation and wants to make a donation so the district can purchase needed capital items, such as medical and fire equipment. They would be items that have not been budgeted for but would be useful. In their discussion, they also spoke about a new fire truck.
“We don’t have anything done yet,” he said, explaining that the possible donation is currently under review by the foundation’s board. “It sounds like it would be a good donation.”
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email