Not so fast on relocating two Anastasia Island Fire Stations

Yesterday's joint meeting of the St. Augustine City Commission and St. Johns County Commission included discussion of hte possibility of a joint fire staton, to be located on SR 312 on Anastasia Island. While we appreciate their saving money, response time would increase by two mnutes or more for thousands of residents living on Anastasia Island.

Commissioner Leanna Freeman, Donald Crichlow and Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline are right to question the proposal.

Worse, it appears the proposal is motivated by the desire of St. Johns County to sell the exsting fire and rescue staton (located by the St. Augustine Beach Pier) to developer-speculator-conmen.

Worse still, the name of PIERRE THOMPSON, grandson of hte founder of the St. Augustine Record was menioned as a motivating factor, in noting that THOMPSON owns the entire south side of SR 312, and future growth and developments will occur there.

City Attorney RONALD WAYNE BROWN, along with former City Attorney GEOFFREY DOBSON, were THOMPSON's lawyers for some thirty years. THOMPSON is most noted for throwing his weight around, and nearly escaping federal criminal charges involving his cutting down a bald eagle nest tree. After the Fish and Wildlife Service criminal investigators performed a criminal incvestigation, our lapdog Bush-era U.S. Attorney nearly covered it up. We reported on it in the Collective Press, resulting in a criminal information being filed, and THOMPSON BROTHERS REALTY pleading guilty, agreeing to pay one third of a million dollars and to provide sixteen (16) acres of land to the government. (In East Texas and elsewhere, THOMPSON would have been incracercarted for molestng a bald eagle).

City Attorney RONALD WAYNE BROWN should recuse himself from this and any other matter affecting THOMPSON's interests, to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Firemen fight fires and provide life-saving to heart attack and accident victims.

Moving two firehouses away from the population to curry favor with developers is not in their job description.

I read the excellent critique by the union local representing our St. Augustine firemen: I am favoraby impressed. Every single one of their questions and concerns must be asked and answered in a public hearing (no time imits, please). Lives are at stake here.

Moving the fire staton to SR 312 is contary to the public interest. Thank you, Commissioners Freeman, Crichlow and Sikes-Kline for asking questions.