Fire 12 votes to temporarily retain chief

Matt Baide | May 26, 20220

Mason County Fire District 12 decided to keep on fire chief Kelli Walsworth pro tem in order to help the district transition to a new fire chief.

At the May 17 fire commissioners meeting, commissioner Albert Wilder said after talking as a board and with the attorney, they decided to retain Walsworth as the pro tem chief “to help the community and help the district in finding a new fire chief and doing a proper pass down to a new fire chief.”

“It is a nonsalaried position she will be assuming,” Wilder said during the meeting. “As far as day to day goes, everything stays the same as it has been. The big difference is she is a pro tem chief, she is nonsalaried. She will not be getting compensation for this position. She agreed to do this for us and for the community to help us try and find a new fire chief. That’s where we stand. The volunteers of the department said they would stay so the fire department is still running. We’ve been in contact with the health department, medical director, nothing changes. The constituents still have first aid, medical, fire response so we are still looking for a fire chief.”

Walsworth was originally scheduled to be dismissed May 19 as fire chief.

The commissioners hired Rachel Noga as the new MCFD 12 secretary by unanimous vote. Commissioner Albert Wilder said the district would reach out to her and have her start “immediately.”

The commissioners also updated the public on the status of the accountability audit being conducted by the state Auditor’s Office.

Commissioner John Pais said the district has received an email from the auditor saying they have “basically finished” the audit and are getting ready to write the final report.

Wilder said the contractor is waiting for three days of good weather to complete the new roof.