SARASOTA — Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will negotiate with two public agencies about providing fire-rescue services at the airport.
The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority told airport staff Monday to simultaneously negotiate with Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue and the Sarasota County Fire Department.
Both expressed interest in taking over for a private fire-rescue provider when its three-year contract with SRQ expires on Sept. 30.
The decision came after both fire-rescue agencies informally submitted cost estimates for providing four years of service.
Sarasota County said it would be almost $5.32 million, while Cedar Hammock estimated it would be $5.57 million.
The $257,000 difference swayed authority Chairman Eric Robinson, the only one who voted against dual negotiations because he said it would “just delay the inevitable” in choosing Sarasota County.
“It’s pretty clear in talking with the chiefs and talking with the firefighters and looking at the numbers which way to go,” Robinson said.
But the other five authority members either advocated for talking solely with Cedar Hammock or keeping their options open by talking to both agencies.
Board member Paul Sharff lobbied for Cedar Hammock, largely because it is non-unionized while Sarasota County firefighters are represented by Suncoast Professional Firefighters & Paramedics Local 2546.
That union represented SRQ’s firefighters when the authority hired Rural/Metro Corp. to take over the airport’s fire-rescue department in 2006.
The cost-cutting move drew protests from the union, including pickets by firefighters.
Airport officials said Rural/Metro has done a good job but the company did not comply with airport requests for financial information.
Fredrick “Rick” Piccolo, SRQ’s president and chief executive, said he could have draft contracts ready for an authority vote as early as April.
Also Monday, the authority agreed to settle a long-standing legal dispute that has cost it more than $184,000.
The authority agreed not to try to recoup that money from William Bruckner in exchange for him dropping his lawsuit against SRQ and two fixed-base operators.
The lawsuit, filed in 1998, accused the airport of violating Bruckner’s rights when it evicted his banner-towing business and later prohibited such businesses from operating at SRQ.
Duane Marsteller, transportation/growth and development reporter, can be reached at 745-7080, ext. 2630.
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