JASPER, Tenn. - In recent months, the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen has become plagued with infighting, which has led to confusion and miscommunication among its members.
At the board's July meeting on Monday, that continued.
City leaders were asked to consider Ordinance 394, which would inject $69,000 into the town's fire department to cover truck repairs and equipment costs, on second and final reading.
Mayor Paul Evans said the money wouldn't cover all the expenses the town had accumulated for the department recently. He said the department was about $80,000 over budget.
Co-fire Chief Josh Huffstuddler said he didn't think the total of the fire department's bills could possibly reach that much money.
Evans' biggest complaint was about $7,500 of LED lighting that was installed on Engine 1 during repairs to its pump by Randall Brackett Fire Truck Repair in Rockmart, Georgia.
"And that's not including the labor," Evans said. "That is something that was not even discussed and brought before this board. We approved to have the pump repaired."
The work has already been done, and Brackett Fire Truck Repair is holding the vehicle until Jasper pays the bill.
Evans said the town had "never beat [Brackett] out of anything" and had paid previous bills.
"If he's doing that [holding the truck for payment], I don't think that we should do any more business with him."
Alderman Josh Jennings said he was "almost certain" the lighting repairs were discussed in last month's meeting.
"No," Evans said.
"The reason that we have to spend money for the fire department is our [Insurance Services Office] rating - it's fixing to go to a 10," Jennings said.
He said an insurance agent recently told him that his house insurance payment would go from $1,300 to $2,300 annually because of the ISO rating increase.
"So, we can either spend our money and do what they want us to do over there, or we'll pay [higher premiums]," Jennings said.
Evans said the town's ISO rating wouldn't change for "at least a year."
Municipality ISO ratings are evaluated every five years, and Evans said Jasper's rating dropped from a six to a five in 2015.
Jennings and Evans continued to argue back and forth about whether or not the lighting package was approved by the board in a previous meeting.
Jennings said Evans was "just trying to make the fire department look bad" by quibbling about the lighting portion of the repairs.
"I don't know if it was or not," City Attorney Mark Raines said. "The minutes will reflect - the recording will reflect - what was said. If it was covered, then it's covered. If not, this board needs to approve that purchase, so it could be paid."
He said whether or not the board already approved the lighting repairs, it would be "no harm, no foul" to approve it again just to make sure.
Initially, no board members offered to do so, and the budget amendment failed due to a lack of a motion to approve.
"We can't pay no bills until you pass the budget [amendment], so just keep that in mind," Raines told the board.
Huffstuddler pleaded with the board to pay the bill and get the truck back.
Evans said the confusion over the amount of the budget amendment was why purchase orders should be filled out "up front" instead of "after the fact."
"I walked into this," Huffstuddler said. "But I intend to fix it, so we can give everybody in here adequate fire protection."
"We're giving adequate fire protection," Evans said.
Huffstuddler and Evans began arguing openly about how many operational fire trucks the town had, and Evans said mutual aid from other towns helped provide that protection, too.
"Mutual aid is for help," Huffstuddler said. "That's not a crutch to lean on."
Both men said they weren't trying to argue with each other, and then continued to argue.
"If your house catches on fire, I'll risk my life for you to save your house," Huffstuddler said.
Evans banged his gavel.
"I'm not arguing with you," he told Huffstuddler. "You can be a little smartass if you want to."
Those in attendance were aghast at Evans's comment, for which Evans apologized.
Moments later, police Chief Billy Mason threatened to clear the meeting room if attendees couldn't keep quiet so the board could continue its business.
Eventually, the board voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 394, and then unanimously approved the lighting repairs.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.