Veteran Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Retiring

At 25 years of age, many young adults today are still not sure what the future holds for them long term. However, David Batiato always understood that the fire/rescue service would eventually be part of his life from a young age. After graduating from college with a B.S. Degree in Business Management and a short stint working in the business community, he would follow that dream of his.

In 1991 he would walk through the front door of the then headquarters of the Marco Island Fire Department, which at that time was located on South Barfield Drive just beyond the Publix Shopping Center. It would be in that station, and the other small one bay building on East Elkcam Circle, where his 31-year career in one of the most dangerous and challenging professions in the nation began.

On Monday, May 16 the Marco Island City Council would honor him, his wife and their entire family for his dedicated service to the citizens of Marco Island. Residents, city staff and fellow firefighters looked on in admiration for his dedicated service to his community, as Deputy Chief Batiato received the thanks of a grateful community.

Water Safety Subject of Two Other Proclamations

America’s Boating Club Proclamation

Council would go on to present proclamations to two other organizations all to do with safety around the water. Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz would first recognize May 21 through 27 as National Safe Boating Week and present the council’s official Proclamation of same to David Riccio of the Marco Island Coast Guard Auxiliary and Gene Burson the District 22 commander of the America’s Boating Club.

Burson would remind those in attendance that on this Saturday, May 21 their club, in conjunction with many other organizations and emergency agencies across the area, would be hosting a “Just Wear It” event at the Rose Marina starting at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.

NCH Safe and Health Children’s Coalition

The third and final proclamation would recognize the work being done by the NCH Safe and Healthy Children’s Coalition. That Coalition consists of over 70 organizations to help prevent drownings here in Collier County during the National Drowning Prevention Month and throughout the year.

Statistics locally show that drowning is a leading cause of death in children between one and four years of age. The Coalition, in an effort to reverse the trend in drownings, have offered over 76,000 swimming lessons to young children since 2012, resulting in no pediatric drowning deaths in 2020 and 2021.

Another successful program for the group has been the “life jacket loaner program,” which began in 2014 at 15 loaner stations at lakes and beaches throughout Collier County, including here on Marco Island. The loaner jackets are replaced when leaving the beach and have been a popular program throughout the County.