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High Springs fire chief and commissioner apologize after August meeting; Alachua County union responds
Summary
Chief Peters and a commissioner read apology letters at the Sept. 8 meeting after inaccuracies and heated remarks at an Aug. 28 meeting; the Fire Rescue Professionals of Alachua County issued a letter urging factual accuracy and respect.
Two apology letters and a union response dominated public comment at the High Springs City Commission meeting on Sept. 8, following tensions at an Aug. 28 meeting over statements about Alachua County Fire Rescue.
Chief (Mister) Peters read a written statement saying he accepted responsibility for inaccuracies and apologized to Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) and its leadership. Peters said he had spoken with ACFR Chief Harold Theas, had offered a sincere apology and acknowledged that staff and the department had worked to address operational challenges. In his statement Peters wrote that mistakes happen, pledged transparency and described the department staff as “the dream team” working to improve efficiency.
Shortly afterward, another speaker identified as Kevin read a separate statement apologizing for inaccurate off-the-cuff remarks he made at the Aug. 28 meeting about protocol, staffing and response times. Kevin said he reviewed video of the meeting, contacted city management and Chief Theas the next day, and that his remarks were not intended to deceive or disrespect county personnel.
The Fire Rescue Professionals of Alachua County, Local 3852, then sent a written letter that was read into the record by a speaker at the Sept. 8 meeting. The union’s letter disputed several factual assertions made from the dais on Aug. 28, highlighted ACFR’s provision of advanced life support in Newberry and Alachua County, and noted donated equipment and in-kind services the county provides to High Springs (including radios and medical-supply support). The union said NFPA and OSHA rules allow exceptions for immediate rescue when victims are believed to be inside a structure and that High Springs and neighboring departments have historically coordinated operations.
Why it matters
The exchanges prompted commissioners, staff and members of the public to focus on intergovernmental cooperation and mutual-aid arrangements. Commission members stated a desire to move forward and to base future discussions on accurate data; staff had already been pursuing formal amendments and communications with the county about mutual-aid payments and station relocations.
What the commission did
The commission later approved a first amendment to the interlocal agreement with Alachua County for fire suppression and EMS/rescue services (the amendment maintains the existing formula and extends the agreement for another year while the city gathers data from the newly opened Station 21). During the Sept. 8 meeting several commissioners and the city manager encouraged fact-based dialogue and thanked county partners for assistance provided during an interim period without a permanent city fire chief.
Ending
Commissioners asked staff to compile data on the in-kind county services and supplies (which staff and commissioners said are not currently dollarized in the contract) so the commission and the public can assess the full value of the county partnership in future negotiations.
