Hardee County Fire Rescue pins four new lieutenants; director outlines equipment purchases and staffing goals

Hardee County commissioners on Dec. 18 paused regular business for a pinning ceremony recognizing four newly promoted lieutenants and heard a wide-ranging update from Public Safety Director Casey Dasher on equipment, staffing and EMS operations.

Dasher (introduced to the board as the county's public safety director) read an oath for the officers and invited family members to pin each lieutenant: James Bodek, Joshua Exendine, David Morales and Shawn Testerman. Commissioners offered brief congratulations; the moment proceeded as a ceremonial recognition with photographs.

In a presentation that followed, Dasher outlined recent equipment and capital updates for Hardee County Fire Rescue. He said the department has received new MSA air packs (replacing apparatus up to 24 years old) and diagnostic machines that allow the county to repair and recertify packs in-house; four personnel will attend a CARES technician class to be certified to service the equipment. "We no longer have breathing apparatus that is 24 years old," Dasher said, calling the new air packs "an amazing gift" that increases crew safety.

Dasher described upcoming apparatus deliveries: Tanker 3 (a Department of Forestry-type 5,000-gallon tanker, expected in mid-January) and Engine 3 (recently built in Wisconsin), both featuring updated safety technology and diagnostics. He also said the county's CMAR agreement for Station 1 and the training center has been signed and that the department hopes to break ground in the coming months.

On staffing and grants, Dasher said the department will again pursue a FEMA SAFER grant to support six additional firefighter positions, and will apply for AFG (equipment) and a Firehouse Subs grant for extrication equipment. He highlighted the EMS capital plan (Rescue 1 replacement) and purchases of modern cardiac monitors (Lifepak 35s) and larger video laryngoscopes to improve patient care and remote QA review with the medical director.

Dasher also presented FY2023 EMS billing data and collection improvements. He said the county historically took a significant write-off (FY2021 write-offs were $379,000) but that supplemental state/federal programs and operational changes have reduced the net impact. A PEMT/MCO supplemental program produced $85,000 in FY2022 and $218,000 in FY2023 in recoveries; Dasher reported the FY2023 net write-off impact at about $168,351 after supplemental recoveries and said the county's collection rate rose to roughly 69.9%.

Commissioners praised the changes: one commissioner said the board appreciates "what you've implemented" that reduces taxpayer burden. Dasher credited steps such as adding county branding to mailed bills, hiring a billing coordinator and implementing a new reporting system that will better connect field reports with hospitals to improve billing accuracy.

Why it matters: The department's capital replacements, in-house maintenance capability and grant-seeking aim to improve response safety, shorten repair cycles and reduce long-term costs to taxpayers. The SAFER request would add recurring personnel expense if awarded and later funded locally; commissioners noted the need to plan for those costs in future budgets.

Next steps: Dasher said staff will continue grant applications, complete apparatus rollouts and present unit-replacement plans during next year's budget process. The board accepted the EMS write-offs and thanked staff for the improvements.

Quotes and attribution: "We no longer have breathing apparatus that is 24 years old," Public Safety Director Casey Dasher said of the new MSA air packs. On billing, Dasher said improved processes and PEMT/MCO supplemental recoveries "have been extremely beneficial to reducing the financial burden on the taxpayers."