Charlotte Board Chairman “livid, miffed, distraught and terribly angry” over Donation to CCH Fire Department

Holocene Clean Energy recently made a donation to the Charlotte Court House Fire Department to pave their parking lot.  Holocene also issued a press release which was printed in The Messenger and other newspapers. In that release they erroneously stated “the donation was in response to a high priority of the Board of Supervisors.”   

Because this donation was made to Charlotte Court House and not to Drakes Branch, which has urgent needs since the flooding in October resulted in the Drakes Fire House being unusable, some citizens and three board members were outspokenly angry.

Holocene sent a follow-up email stating in part:

“In the announcement of our financial assistance to the Charlotte Court House Volunteer Fire Department to fund improvements to the area surrounding the new facility, helping trucks pull from the station more quickly during emergencies, we stated that the project was a high priority for the Charlotte County Board of Supervisors.  This was incorrect, and in fact, a much more urgent need arose last October involving the Drakes Branch Volunteer Fire Department.

“Some time after we offered our support for the improvements at the Charlotte Court House VFD, the facility housing the Drakes Branch Volunteer Fire Department suffered a near total loss during Hurricane Michael and its aftermath.”

Supervisor Pierantoni suggested, “Donations to the fire departments should be approved by the board.”  She added “I think mine (BDVFD) would share with Drakes Branch. My fellow firemen in my district would say ‘my brothers in Drakes Branch don’t have a building.’”

Chairman Garland Hamlett offered a rambling tirade regarding the donation and the apology and correction sent by Holocene. (Look inside this week’s Messenger for a transcript of Hamlett’s comments and the press release from Holocene).

Supervisor Donna Fore sarcastically commented, “So they said they were sorry but they didn’t give you your money to rebuild your building and they are paving a parking lot here. NICE GUYS.”

Following the meeting several citizens expressed their concern that the Charlotte Board had publically criticized Holocene and that board members had contacted Holocene’s CEO complaining about what was probably the largest single donation ever made to a local fire department.

One said, “After this, I would be surprised if Holocene ever made another donation in Charlotte County.”