Fire 12 meeting contentious

Fire District 12 Commissioner Nick Jones accused Chief Brian Walsworth of “dereliction of duty” at the April 9 commission meeting after Jones saw the state of disrepair in fire station 12-3, on Beeville Loop Road, he said.

Community members told him April 3 that the station was left open, so Jones went to take a look with three witnesses.

Jones said they went inside the open building after notifying the sheriff.

“All I could smell was mouse feces and urine,” he said.

There was a dead mouse in a fire engine compartment, rodent nests, and “a mouse chewing on a roll of paper towels in the front compartment of the cab,” Jones said.

The engine should not be in service until it can be fully cleaned and decontaminated, Jones said.

“Did you notify the chief or members of law enforcement prior to doing that?” Commissioner Kelli Walsworth asked.

“I informed law enforcement,” Jones said.

“And the fire chief, since that’s a day-to-day operation?”

“No,” he replied.

Jones clarified that he called the sheriff to say he was going into the station, not that he called to report the door was open.

Jones said he didn’t have a case number, but the sheriff was investigating.

Jones and Kelli Walsworth also sparred over Walsworth’s stipend.

Jones said it didn’t matter if it was called a stipend or a salary, Walsworth was still accepting money, which was illegal.

“It’s completely legal,” Walsworth said.

“It is not,” Jones replied.

“Because you disagree with something does not mean it’s illegal.”

Jones argued that according to state law, Walsworth can’t receive compensation. He wanted to know why Walsworth had payment vouchers for $2,100 because he didn’t receive any documentation.

Walsworth said she gets paid for attending auditor and commission meetings and was paid quarterly until March 31.

Jones made a motion to approve all vouchers except for Walsworth’s disputed pay, which was defeated by Walsworth and Commissioner Cinda Compton.

Commissioners also struggled over approving a nepotism policy. Jones wanted to vote between two proposals presented at the meeting, but Walsworth thought they should get more examples before choosing.

“I’m not saying we don’t need to approve a nepotism policy. I think we need to look at other ones besides just the two of these,” she said, before voting to table the motion, along with Compton.

When Walsworth said the interlocal agreement discussion on the agenda would have to be tabled because Chief Brian Walsworth could not attend the meeting, members of the public attending the meeting began shouting and heckling Walsworth.

Walsworth told the crowd that the chief’s position is not paid.

“The chief is available when he’s available,” she said.