Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Pais claims postmaster threw away district mail
Community members in attendance hold up signs telling the Mason County Fire District 12 chief and commissioners to resign during the public comment portion of the monthly commissioners' meeting Tuesday at the MCFD 12 headquarters in Matlock.
Mason County Fire District 12 commissioners John Pais, left, Albert Wilder, center, and Brian Jutson speak to the public during the monthly meeting Tuesday in Matlock.
Mason County Fire District 12 is under investigation by the FBI, according to the Mason County Sheriff's Office.
In an email to the Journal, Detective Corporal Michael Sargent wrote, that the Sheriff's Office has suspended its investigation into the case and "it has been adopted for investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Fire District 12 hosted its monthly meeting Tuesday in Matlock. When asked about the investigation being handed over to the FBI, Commissioner Albert Wilder said, "As far as we know, it's not."
"None of the attorneys the fire department has right now know anything about that," Wilder said during the meeting. "We heard that rumor, yes."
The fire commissioners met with the attorneys conducting the internal investigation in an executive session. Commissioner Wilder said at the November meeting that the attorneys would be present at the December meeting to provide an update on the investigation, but it did not occur.
"I personally thought they were going to be here by Zoom today myself," commissioner John Pais said during the meeting.
Wilder provided some updates on the investigation to the community members in attendance. He said the investigation is ongoing.
"He's finishing up his interviews and going over everything from the auditor," Wilder said. "Here's what I can tell you about that is he's having the same issue getting paperwork from the auditor that I believe the community had. The auditor did not release all of their supporting documents at the end of their audit like they had assured our attorney they would. So, they give it in installments, like records requests, it takes months and months and everybody is just stuck."
Wilder said he wants to get through the investigation and "let the chips fall where they fall."
"That's the thing and that's what we've said from the beginning," Wilder said. "I'm not hiding from this investigation. I have nothing to hide from. Did we do everything correctly? I'm not going to say that's the case, but I'm pretty confident in the investigation and at the same time, he's not working for me, he's working for you."
The commissioners approved vouchers during the meeting, paying $50,000 to the state Auditor's Office, according to Wilder.
"The total voucher is $76,000, we just paid the auditor $50,000," Wilder said.
The commissioners also provided an update on the search for a new fire chief, stating current pro tempore fire chief Kelli Walsworth will be the chief starting Jan. 1, but will not be paid, until a new fire chief is found or "we figure out what else we're doing," according to Wilder.
The commissioners dismissed Walsworth without cause at the April 19 commissioners' meeting but brought Walsworth back at the May 17 meeting until the district can transition to a new fire chief.
The commissioners stated during the May meeting that Walsworth was nonsalaried when she was brought back and was not being compensated, but Wilder said during Tuesday's meeting there is a law stating you cannot volunteer for a position you were previously paid for.
"That is a huge task to do with zero compensation," Wilder said during the meeting. "There is a neighboring fire chief, he can vouch for that fact. It's a lot of work, especially when you show up for every call. It is what it is. It's the only way we can do it, otherwise, we can keep her on as chief until we find a new chief and we can pay her a salary."
Wilder said the district has received one applicant for fire chief, but Pais said he pulled himself out of the application process.
Pais said the district believes it has fixed the mail issue.
"We put in a forwarding to the post office in January, and a lot of our mail had not been forwarded," Pais explained. "We have a mailbox out here now. We were told that because it hadn't been forwarded it, it hadn't been picked up, that the postmaster actually admitted to throwing mail away. That's why a lot of stuff has not gotten to us."
Community members spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting and a few members left after commissioners asked them to leave. Some community members held signs, asking for the commissioners and fire chief to resign.
More information about the meeting and Fire District 12 will be in next week's Journal.
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