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Myakka City Florida Gets New Fire Chief
MYAKKA CITY FIRE DISTRICT
Myakka City makes recently fired chief full-time employee
LISA MARIE LENTZ
Herald Staff Writer
MYAKKA CITY - Four months after Bobby Dodge was fired as chief of the East Manatee Fire District, Myakka City made him a full-time fire employee.
After the firing, Dodge remained chief of the Myakka City Fire Control District, continuing on a part-time basis.
The impending construction of a second station in Myakka City at State Road 70 and County Road 675 creates a need for an additional firefighter to be added to staff, district commission chairman David Parks said.
"We started making plans for this last year," he said, "and we figured we might as well get someone with all the experience."
Dodge could not be reached for comment.
Parks said the financing for the station is being worked out and hopes to start construction in October. Optimistically, Parks said, the station could be open early in 2004.
Once open, the fire staff from the existing station will be split between the two stations.
Parks said the district is getting a bargain by making Dodge a full-time employee.
"He can make a good living doing anything," Parks said, "but he wants to stay in the fire business. He's way over-qualified for what he's doing."
Dodge's firing in March sparked a chain of events in the interlocal East Manatee district. Dodge was fired for mismanagement of the budget and personnel, Braden River commission chairman Garry Lawson said at the time of Dodge's dismissal.
Braden River commissioner Brian Foster resigned in protest of the way Dodge's firing was handled, and the East Manatee district was subsequently dissolved by Myakka City fire commissioners into its two original parts, the Braden River and Myakka City districts.
But the Braden River commissioners haven't seen the last of Dodge.
He attended the Braden River district's May meeting with his attorney Peter Mackey.
Dodge addressed the commissioners in a letter, via Mackey, informing them of his desire for a hearing regarding the firing.
Mackey said Dodge doesn't believe he was treated fairly and thinks his due process rights were violated.
Dodge's chance to present his case may come sooner than later.
In May, commissioners tabled a motion to approve a hearing until a new labor attorney, one who had not had dealings with Dodge in the past, could be hired.
Lawson said a new attorney had been hired but that the issue was not on the July agenda.
The Braden River District Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday Station 1, 8800 S.R. 70.
Lisa Marie Lentz, East Manatee reporter, can be reached at 708-7906 or at [email protected]
Myakka City makes recently fired chief full-time employee
LISA MARIE LENTZ
Herald Staff Writer
MYAKKA CITY - Four months after Bobby Dodge was fired as chief of the East Manatee Fire District, Myakka City made him a full-time fire employee.
After the firing, Dodge remained chief of the Myakka City Fire Control District, continuing on a part-time basis.
The impending construction of a second station in Myakka City at State Road 70 and County Road 675 creates a need for an additional firefighter to be added to staff, district commission chairman David Parks said.
"We started making plans for this last year," he said, "and we figured we might as well get someone with all the experience."
Dodge could not be reached for comment.
Parks said the financing for the station is being worked out and hopes to start construction in October. Optimistically, Parks said, the station could be open early in 2004.
Once open, the fire staff from the existing station will be split between the two stations.
Parks said the district is getting a bargain by making Dodge a full-time employee.
"He can make a good living doing anything," Parks said, "but he wants to stay in the fire business. He's way over-qualified for what he's doing."
Dodge's firing in March sparked a chain of events in the interlocal East Manatee district. Dodge was fired for mismanagement of the budget and personnel, Braden River commission chairman Garry Lawson said at the time of Dodge's dismissal.
Braden River commissioner Brian Foster resigned in protest of the way Dodge's firing was handled, and the East Manatee district was subsequently dissolved by Myakka City fire commissioners into its two original parts, the Braden River and Myakka City districts.
But the Braden River commissioners haven't seen the last of Dodge.
He attended the Braden River district's May meeting with his attorney Peter Mackey.
Dodge addressed the commissioners in a letter, via Mackey, informing them of his desire for a hearing regarding the firing.
Mackey said Dodge doesn't believe he was treated fairly and thinks his due process rights were violated.
Dodge's chance to present his case may come sooner than later.
In May, commissioners tabled a motion to approve a hearing until a new labor attorney, one who had not had dealings with Dodge in the past, could be hired.
Lawson said a new attorney had been hired but that the issue was not on the July agenda.
The Braden River District Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday Station 1, 8800 S.R. 70.
Lisa Marie Lentz, East Manatee reporter, can be reached at 708-7906 or at [email protected]
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