News briefs

Fire Rescue aces inspection

The Florida Department of Health surprised the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department with a fire drill last week — and the department got high marks in the test.

Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi informed Town Manager Dave Bullock in a May 27 email that an inspector from the health department arrived unannounced at the station to inspect administrative policies, cleanliness, medication storage, training records and emergency medical equipment. 

“I am proud to announce that we rated excellent after the completion of the inspection,” Dezzi wrote in his email to Bullock. 

Bullock forwarded the news to the Longboat Key Town Commission in an email, explaining that the health department arrives unannounced every two years to inspect all aspects of the town’s fire department equipment, records and policies. 

Mayers works to protect manatees

Lands End resident Tom Mayers informed Town Manager Dave Bullock in a May 28 email that it took him a year to clear bureaucratic hurdles to determine whether he could post “Manatee Area” signs in the north area of Longboat Pass warning boaters to use caution. 

After the town told him he couldn’t post signs a year ago without the state’s permission, he inquired with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Last month, the agency told him the signs are allowed and are controlled by the town’s jurisdiction.

Mayers has acquired signs from Save the Manatees and will now post them on and near docks at the north end.

“You may want to look into posting signs on some of the markers around the north and south entrances of the island’s passes in order to warn boaters of the resident manatees around Longboat Key,” Mayers wrote in his email.