recommended strategies - Hardee County

If the County had paid professionals (i.e., paid volunteers) with necessary equipment and apparatus, the ISO
and other rates could go down
In the rural areas, fire assessments can be several thousand dollars
EMS/Fire Calls last year = 2000/265 respectively.
o Are you funding the right mix of services?
Fire/EMS have dual certifications
o Are EMS calls up due to “emergency/insurance” needs (i.e., no insurance)?
o Concern: calls in the outer portions of the County require back up responder service from Polk
County/ Arcadia if there are additional calls (closer in to town)
o Concern with 911 system: with a different phone prefix, operators have difficulty in finding their
location
o Dual service (i.e., rolling fire truck and ambulance) is not cost effective
• If the County looked at 3 services versus the current 2, could save money and equipment
overall, and have specific response needs/calls
o Need to look at/study the types of calls and costs
o Emergency services have good, professional staff
o Need to look at a fire MSTU instead of the current MSBU; current MSBU does not fully fund itself
and requires additional general funds
o Current fire tax is too high; deters economic development
o Need additional dollars for staffing and also look at ways to be more efficient in service delivery
o Current fire service fees are based on the 2004 Fire Study
o Question: what can you afford and how can you best serve the community?
o Need to look at fees (bills) to insurance company and at-fault persons if County has to provide services
o Concern: Fire Assessments versus insurance rates and fees
o Want qualified, trained professional staff; equipped to provide those services
Need an alternative to the hospital/ER for minor items (i.e., urgent care facility)
Landfill – how much time is left in the current permit?
o 5-6 years of permitted life left/2 years
County needs a recycling program; also helps by extending the life of the landfill by reducing the total wastes
going into it
o Start-up costs are high; costs to separate are also high
o If the recycling market was better, could offset costs
Need to study a landfill incinerator
o Incinerator can generate electricity at the facility and potentially other areas
Look at burning manure as a waste-to-energy stream
What is the availability of water and sewer?
Most of the County is on well/septic; central (public) water and sewer available close in to cities and in cities
o State regulates well and septic systems
Need to look at the condition of the existing lines and facilities
There are private systems in the County; concern is the level of nitrates in the water
State and federal systems funds for utility assumption
Private systems cost dollars too, “no free ride for service”
What is your vision or need for Hardee County in the future?
Lights in Magnolia Manor
Stormwater treatment/flood mitigation (Wauchula and dense areas)
Additional lots for Habitat for Humanity
Road improvements – County Line Road specifically
Central water to all population centers
More welcoming roadways and entrances into the community and cities
Increased code enforcement
More business friendly
o Services
o Facilities
o Cost of getting/staying in business
o Taxes/fees as impediment to new business
o Incentives for staying/coming to Hardee County for business
o Availability of public infrastructure
(improve) Quality of water
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