TONTITOWN -- Tontitown Fire Chief Lance Secor resigned Tuesday morning because he was "tired of the politics" in the City Council, he said.
"We were hired to build a fire department because the city council representing the citizens of Tontitown thought there was a need for it," Secor said in his resignation letter to Mayor Paul Colvin. "(Citizens) deserved a fire department willing to get involved with the citizens and be active in the community, willing to make all purchases known to the public, willing to work hand in hand with the police department to make a city like Tontitown someplace where people would want to move to."
Secor is the latest head to step down or be fired since January. Police Chief Kristopher Arthur, who was also the fire chief until December, was fired earlier last month. Police Chief Denny Upton was also hired and resigned in January.
The City Council has been considering accepting a contract with the Tontitown Area Fire Department for $175,000 per year, aldermen said. The idea of going back to the volunteer department that served Tontitown from 1979 until last summer has been circulating for months.
The contract allows the volunteer department to use city equipment and be over employees. City firefighters are worried they will lose their jobs, they said, but aldermen say the cuts are needed because of a budget shortfall.
Colvin has said Tontitown must make cuts this year to meet its financial obligations. Alderman Joe Edgmon said the cuts need to be around $300,000 to $400,000.
Aldermen hope to save thousands by switching to a contract service with the volunteer department, but former Alderman Clint Penzo said Tuesday the move will not save money. The city Fire Department proposed working similar hours and having similar fire protection as what is in the contract for less, saying they can do the service for $157,000 per year.
Penzo said aldermen, many of whom have connections to the volunteer department, are acting out of "cronyism" and not in the best interest of the city. Secor called out the City Council for not learning about the city's Fire Department and its capabilities. He said in his letter he was giving his two-week notice and taking it as vacation time.
"We have brought our families together to create a great network of amazing people," Secor said in his letter. "Our children, our wives and our friends have helped fix this fire department to make it better and make it a place where the public, the citizens you represent to come and take part in. You are the representatives of this city and your personal vendetta against us is immoral."
The City Council tabled considering the contract and waiving bidding Tuesday until an upcoming special meeting.
NW News on 02/04/2015