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Sarasota News Leader July 12, 2013 Page 43 city and the county, when in some cases they are receiving only city services. The mayor also cited Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight's decision to stop having deputies work as student resource officers in schools within the city limits of Venice, North Port and Sarasota. That is an example, Holic said, of city residents paying taxes for a county department when service has been cut. As a result of Knight's action, a Venice Police Department officer has been reassigned to the position of school resource officer. Knight has said he made the change because he felt municipal law enforcement officers should work in schools in their jurisdictions. COMMISSION VIEWS The county commissioners Tuesday spent some time discussing their rejection of the city's request for any kind of repayment for emergency medical calls. County Commissioner Christine Robinson, who represents a portion of Venice as part of her district, said Venice officials can take over emergency medical service operations in the city if they are dissatisfied with the way the system is working. County Fire Chief Mike Tobias. Photo courtesy Sarasota County "This has been going on for too long, and it has been a game for some people," Barbetta said of the debate. "If they can do it better, more power to them. Let them take it over." Commissioner Charles Hines agreed with the message but opted for a more measured ap"If they would like Venice EMS, they can take it. Otherwise, we need to end this conversa- proach. Hines wanted to make sure the finantion," Robinson said. "We are getting into tit cial data about the cost of operating EMS in Venice was included in the letter to city offifor tat with them." cials. Commissioner Joe Barbetta agreed with Robinson. He was in favor of sending a forthright The letter that was drafted included five separate notations of expenses for emergency reply to Venice officials.