Beach communities press Pinellas County to fund full staffing for Rescue 27 transport unit

Residents and local fire district leaders told the board Rescue 27 lacks full 24-hour paramedic staffing and urged the county to provide funding for a transport-capable rescue unit stationed on the correct side of the drawbridge.

"We are asking that the county provides funding to staff our own transport capable rescue unit in Indian Rocks on the correct side of the drawbridge," Kelly Siswick told commissioners, describing delays caused when the bridge is raised and the district relies on basic-life-support units without paramedics.

Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue leaders, elected local officials and residents emphasized that the beach cities already contribute disproportionately to the county's EMS tax base and asked for a clear path in the next budget cycle to permanently staff Rescue 27. The commission thanked speakers and said staff and county EMS will verify operational numbers and continue discussions as part of ongoing budget work.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 266, topfinish SEG 675

Speakers (attributions in this article): Kelly Siswick (SEG 575), Mark Bowling (SEG 641), Betsy McKenna (SEG 677).