Service Contract Unlikely for Gulfport Fire Department

"I wasn't pleased," Mayor Mike Yakes after hearing about the city's chances of receiving the contract.

City Manager Jim O'Reilly told councilors, during a workshop on Thursday, that they were not going to get the bid. That's because Gulfport's proposal for fire services for a nearby unincorporated area of Pinellas County, currently served by the South Pasadena Fire Department , was not the lowest bid.

The bids:

• St. Petersburg $75,000
• Gulfport $133,000
• South Pasadena $250,000

Although the outcome is not yet finalized, O'Reilly says the county will likely accept the lowest bid. Pinellas County Commisioners have to vote on accepting a bid and then award a contract before all is said and done.

Regardless of who receives the contract, all cities in Pinellas County have a mutual aid agreement. The closest responders to a fire, emergency, etc, will continue to respond.

Mayor Yakes told Patch he was comfortable and pleased with the bid Gulfport provided, "Our numbers were very well analyzed for what we can provide fire service for, with the units and personnel we have."

The contract would have brought in $133,000 to the city next fiscal year.

"We were not counting on it. It wasn't that if we don't have that we're going to have to put a tax into place, or any other losses. "

"It would have enhanced our budget, certainly it would have," Yakes said.

Gulfport Fire Chief James Marenkovic could not be reached, as he is out of the office until the end of July.

More information:

Pasadena Golf Club Estates: Community Civic Group website

"County Commission Approves Changes to South Pasadena Fire District" on Tampa Bay Times