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Supervisors raise concerns about Rescue Squad staffing and outstanding audit
Summary
Supervisors and staff told the board Charlotte County Rescue Squad is struggling to staff three units full time and is pursuing a hardship grant; County Administrator Daniel Witt said the outside audit remains outstanding and he is following up with the auditing firm.
Board members described operational and financial strain at the Charlotte County Rescue Squad (CCRS) during the Jan. 9 meeting. Supervisor Walter T. Bailey told the board that CCRS "is really struggling to staff three units full time" and said the Public Safety Committee was preparing a recommendation for the board. Bailey also said CCRS is eligible to apply for a "hardship grant" and that the squad hopes to receive that support.
County Administrator Daniel Witt told supervisors he had contacted the auditing firm Robertson, Farmer, Cox about the outstanding audit of CCRS and said he planned to follow up. Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith had earlier asked why the firm hired to perform the audit had not completed it; Witt said he was also anxious to have the audit finished.
No formal board action was recorded to change CCRS governance or funding during the meeting. The Public Safety Committee was described as preparing recommendations to bring back to the full board; the timing and contents of those recommendations were not specified at the meeting.
Clarifying details from the meeting: Bailey noted that CCRS could not yet apply for some grants but qualified for a hardship grant; administrators are pursuing the outstanding audit; and the Public Safety Committee will prepare further recommendations for board consideration.
