Sarasota News Leader

07/25/2014

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Sarasota County's next Emergency Service director is scheduled to begin work Aug. 4, bringing with him 25 years of public safety experience, the county has announced. On July 18, County Administrator Tom Harmer notified the public that Rich Collins, the emergency management director of Osceola County, will fill the vacancy created by the May retirement of Chief Mike Tobias. The county concluded a thorough search for a new emergency services director, a news release notes, with Tobias offering assistance during the interview and selection process. "We are pleased to welcome Rich and his family to Sarasota County," said Harmer in the release. "We're confident that Rich will do a great job leading our Emergency Services team here." Collins, originally from the Chicago area, is no stranger to Sarasota County, the release continues. "My family's love of Florida has always been with the southwest area, and Sarasota County is exactly where we want to be," said Collins in the release. In his current role with Osceola County, Collins is responsible for planning, prepared- ness, recovery and mitigation to and from disasters. He is also responsible for the coun- ty's intergovernmental communications, the release points out. When Collins, a former fire chief, starts work with Sarasota County, he will oversee the Sarasota County Fire Department, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services and Lifeguard Operations, the release adds. "I look forward to this incredible opportu- nity and am honored to lead the public safety team in service to the residents and visi- tors of Sarasota County," said Collins, who holds degrees in organizational management and leadership. Collins and his wife, Kathie, have been mar- ried for 26 years and have three children, the release continues. COUNTY'S NEXT EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR TO START IN AUGUST A temporary fence was erected last week at Selby Five Points Park to protect the park's new sod and help it get established, the city has announced. "Heavy usage of the park is preventing the grass from taking root," a news release says. City staff hopes the turf will stabilize soon and that the fence can be removed within two to four weeks, the release adds. The sod was installed approximately five weeks ago, it notes. Every two years, the Downtown Improvement District funds the replacement of the grass at Selby Five Points Park, which is necessitated because of wear and tear, the release says. TEMPORARY FENCE INSTALLED AROUND FIVE POINTS PARK A fence has been erected around Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota to protect new sod. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota Sarasota News Leader July 25, 2014 Page 77

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