Tempers flare between Jasper board members during fire department discussion

Mayor Paul Evans, left, and Vice Mayor Paul West argue during a meeting.
Mayor Paul Evans, left, and Vice Mayor Paul West argue during a meeting.

JASPER, Tenn. - The seemingly endless issues at Jasper's fire department have become a hot-button topic among city leaders, and tempers flared recently as leaders discussed the need for new fire trucks and fire hall repairs.

At the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen's March meeting, Vice Mayor Paul West said officials have discovered a lot of damage at the fire hall since the board fired Fire Chief Chris Rector last month. He said things had been neglected.

And a recent report from the University of Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service has also suggested that the city should buy two new fire engines. (The same report was used by officials as grounds to fire Rector).

But, West said, "we can't afford that."

photo Mayor Paul Evans, left, and Vice Mayor Paul West argue during a meeting.

He proposed the board solicit bids to purchase one new engine through a lease-purchase plan, and the board voted unanimously to do so.

West estimated the price for that would be between $35,000 to $38,000 per year over 12 years, or a total of $456,000.

"One of the biggest things is, we've got four trucks over there, and right now, out of the four, none of them are 100 percent," he said.

Engine 3 needs a new pump and has electrical problems, and Engine 1, a 2000 model, which is the newest vehicle at the fire hall, needs similar repairs.

The aerial ladder truck Jasper bought 14 months ago for about $15,000 has "never really been in service," West said, and had three flat tires when officials examined it more closely.

He estimated the needed repairs to all three trucks could cost up to $40,000.

Aside from the trucks, the fire hall is in disrepair, West said. It has a leaky roof that has ruined some equipment, plumbing problems, and outdoor lighting issues.

But Mayor Paul Evans said there is no money in the budget for the board to make the needed repairs to the fire trucks.

He said the quoted prices would also require three bids each to comply with state law since they were all possibly over $10,000.

City Attorney Mark Raines said the board could forgo the bidding process and act immediately on certain purchases if it is an emergency situation.

"But the law is still going to require [city officials] to contact three vendors and try to get some sort of bid on a competitive basis," he said. "If that's the situation, this board needs to act."

Officials said the board would likely have to call a special meeting soon to approve a budget amendment for the needed repairs.

One meeting attendee asked whose job it was to make sure that department supervisors are doing their jobs, like vehicle maintenance, properly.

"It's each one of them," Evans replied. "It's each person that has anything to do with those [departments]. It's their responsibility. They're the ones checking the engine oil. One man doesn't go check the engine oil. One man doesn't go around and thump the tires. Each one of them that gets on these trucks should be responsible for maintaining their trucks."

Evans became more and more agitated as he talked about various incidents that involved the city's fire department over the last 10 years or more.

He said the town would have to come up with the money for repairs and a new engine through a property tax increase.

"You're going to have to pay for it," Evans said. "I'm not sure that we've got enough money in [the general fund] to pay for it. We've got issues all across the board right now. We're looking at mega money coming out right here, and we're going to have to come up with it."

As West began talking about a fire department purchase that happened around 1999, Evans interrupted him, and that led to a brief shouting match.

"Can you be quiet for once?" West asked Evans.

"No," Evans replied.

"You've always got an out, don't you?" West said. "But it never adds up to what the facts are. You were voted mayor, not dictator."

West continued his story, and Evans later reiterated that board members would have to make a decision on how the town is going to pay for the fire department's needs.

"Do you want to raise property taxes to get everything that [the fire department] is wanting, or what do you want to do?" he told the board. "I'm telling you right now, we don't have the money to do everything."

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

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