Turner voted against restoring lifeguard hours

Pilar Turner voted against extending lifeguard hours.

Editor’s note: InsideVero.com received and previously posted the following letter from Eric Toomsoo, president of the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. While praising Mayor Richard Winger, Vice Mayor Jay Kramer and Councilwoman Amelia Graves, Toomsoo avoided reminding readers expanded lifeguard hours were opposed by Pilar Turner and Craig Fletcher.

In reporting on the rescues made possible by the extended lifeguard hours, the island weekly seems to have also been careful not to mention that its one endorsee in the city council election, Pilar Turner, voted against a full schedule for protecting Humiston Park Beach.

Three weeks after the restoration of lifeguard hours at Humiston Park, lifeguards performed numerous water rescues at the popular family beach.

City Council vote helps save lives

At approximately 3:30pm on Saturday, October 18th, City of Vero Beach Lifeguard Vincent Valentino responded to 4 children, ages 7 through 10, who were caught in a rip current north of Humiston Park. 15 minutes later Valentino ran back into the water to help a women and her 4 and 5 year old children after a large wave catapulted them off their bodyboard. In both incidents, all involved were pulled to safety without further incident.

Vero Beach City Council members Amelia Graves, Mayor Winger and Jay Kramer supported the measure to allot $30,000 to restore Humiston Park lifeguard hours from 10am to 3pm back to the pre-recession hours of 9am to 5pm.

The Vero Beach Lifeguard Association and the Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce have been advocating the need for safer beaches and spoke in support of the measure at this year’s budget hearings.

The City has been pushing its luck with Central Beach being unguarded as its popularity continues to grow. It makes economic and common sense to have safer beaches.

Central Beach, the area from Humiston Park to The Village Spires, contains the majority of beachside hotels and condos whose guests frequent the beaches. The VBLA reported that an alarming number of incidents have occurred after the hour of 3pm when lifeguard hours at Humiston Park terminated.

We’ve been relying on the beach umbrella rental company employees and other tourist and beachgoers to help people caught in rip currents and other water related emergencies in the Humiston Park area; we were really pushing our luck.

The VBLA commends the actions taken by Ms Graves, Mayor Winger and Mr. Kramer to address the beach safety issue. It was a proactive vote which shows a grasp of the issue and the courage to act.

The VBLA thanks you as well as the number of people who will get into dangerous situations on the beach this upcoming year.

Erik Toomsoo

President, Vero Beach Lifeguard Association

In reporting the additional rescues resulting from the City Council's decision to restore lifeguard hours cut last year, the island weekly was careful not to mention that its one endorsee in the City Council election, Pilar Turner, along with Craig Fletcher, voted against funding longer lifeguard hours at Humiston Park Beach. — In reporting the additional rescues resulting from the City Council’s decision to restore lifeguard hours cut last year, the island weekly was careful not to mention that its one endorsee in the City Council election, Pilar Turner, along with Craig Fletcher, voted against funding longer lifeguard hours at Humiston Park Beach.

3 comments

Why is city government very often penny wise and pound foolish? Is it a lack of business acumen?

We thank our lifeguards for all their efforts to keep us safe both on the beach and in the water. And, we applaud Mayor Winger, Miss Graves, and Mr. Kramer for recognizing this need!

With her record councilwoman Pilar Turner needs a political life preserver. Anyone who goes to the beach should remember who voted to restore the $30,000 on this most worthwhile safety program. Thank you Mayor Winger and councilpersons Kramer and Graves. Keep Vero Vero.