Oct. 19, 2009
Fire Truck Purchase Anxieties Have Roots in a Past Administration
Former Mayor Used Westmoreland Truck as Collateral on Election Equipment
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Why do Westmoreland residents appear leery of receiving a new fire truck for their station? The actions of a previous administration and the community’s dreams of a new fire station represent two of the anxieties said Joyce Clark, a member of the Westmoreland Neighborhood Association.
“We hate to hold the thing against [the new administration], but we have to be protective and try to keep things like that from happening [again],” Clark explained, adding, “There’s been a sore spot about our truck in Westmoreland from when Mayor Dean was the Mayor. Is the administration trying to sell us a bill of goods, “ she pondered? “That’s the kind of memory that a lot of us who have been around for years in the community [have].”
Under the Dean administration the Westmoreland fire truck was used as collateral to purchase election equipment.
Following a special audit of the City of Huntington and the Huntington Sanitary Board in January 2002 by Glen B. Gainer III, WV State Auditor, one of the findings was that then Mayor Jean Dean “put up a fire truck as collateral for a line of credit from Sun Trust Leasing to pay their part on a new election system that the Cabell County Commission purchased. On July 19, 2000 a wire payment was made by Sun Trust Leasing to the county commission in the amount of $55,900 for the city’s share. There is no statutory authority for a city to borrow money in this manner. In addition, the fire truck had been paid for with excess levy and fire fee moneys, which are dedicated revenues.”
Ironically, the infractions cited by Gainer came at a time when the City of Huntington and the Huntington Sanitary Board were embroiled in financial disputes . Last week, Council chairman Jim Insco called for a meeting with Sanitary Board members to discuss a shortfall and bonds; they chose not to show up.
(Editor’s Note: The Gainer audit regarding the Dean Administration also revealed an unapproved $3.6 million dollar sewer project, procurement of professional services without bids, use of revolving Water Development Authority money improperly, improper sewer tap fees, alteration of public records, use of grant money to cover general fund operating deficits and improper interest earnings on tax exempt bonds. You can read his summary by downloading a PDF here. Currently, the incinerator is again on the table. A September 24,2003, letter from WV DEP stated it could not be used for incineration of solid waste. Download that letter HERE.)
By virtue of its location in Wayne County, the Westmoreland portion of Huntington becomes subject to two taxes. They pay municipal fees like all Huntington residents, but their county fees go to the Wayne County Commission. The Wayne Commission sends about $40,000 a year in tax revenue for a dedicated fund for Westmoreland fire protection.
At the time of the mortgaged fire truck, the 1992 model Westmoreland vehicle was the newest in Huntington’s fleet, speculated Clark.
Thus, spending $200,000 for a down payment on a new truck with Westmoreland funds raises red-flag waving hairs for some of those residents. The remaining payment of $147,680 would be financed over seven years with the money coming from the fire levy fund.
District One Councilman Jim Ritter served at the time of the mortgaged truck fiasco. Clark acknowledged that Ritter is “passionate” about his neighborhood and the city. During a recent council meeting, he noted that his physician had told him to maintain his emotions at a level balance.
“I worry about him,” his constituent said, “I’m afraid he’s going to have a heart attack or stroke at a meeting.”
One of the reasons expressed by the city for moving the older truck to the W. 14th Street station concerns lack of space at the Westmoreland station built in 1926. Some residents believe that a new fire station, not a new truck, is a preference. “They’ve been discussing [the new station] for years, and [the fire department/ administration responds] you do not need a new station . You have one of the better ones in the city; it’s sound,” Clark said. “It’s the regular kind of excuses.”
The new station built at 14th Street West cost about $2 million dollars. “We’ve got almost one-fourth of that, plus approximately $40,000 a year coming from the Wayne County Commission.”
Residents had discussed obtaining stimulus funds to add to the approximately $400,000 which the Westmorland fund has available. “They said it was too late to apply; there will be too much competition. They acted like they didn’t want to apply,” Clark said. Residents question that since the current truck would still be a reserve, what does it need to remain at the Westmoreland station and apply the saved funds for a new station there?
Clark’s aware finance, fire and administration “see [the fire truck] as a good move,” but they are not thinking down to the “grassroots level” of what this means to the residents. “When there is a major fire, all of the trucks go out,” Clark said, adding, “I know lots of times our truck goes out into Huntington.” She continued that the sharing is part of being a good neighbor, but “you can be a good neighbor without giving your neighbor everything that’s in your savings.”
Using $50,000 to $100,000 out of that fund MIGHT not raise questions,” if we saw it was beneficial to our fire station.”
Earlier, Joe Rardin, a member of the fire protection committee, said in a published report that “we want to be on good terms with the mayor, but we want him to understand that we don’t want him coming back and shaking us down. We’re not a piggy bank.”
Mayor Wolfe , who at the City Council meeting, suggested the residents did not see the broad picture, will attend tonight’s meeting of the Westmoreland Neighborhood Association @ 6:30 p.m. at the Westmoreland Woman’s Club.
Wolfe does not oppose a new station, but thinks the benefits of a state of the art truck have been overlooked.
In addition, the City faces a January 1, 2010 environmental deadline for purchase of over the road diesel engines with tanks. Tanks to scrub nitrogen oxide will add $15,000-$20,000 to the cost of a truck plus another $100 to $200 in urea fluid for every 50 gallons of fuel used.
Despite the need for reassurances about the past, Clark said, the relationship between the city and Westmoreland’s neighborhood association “have come a long way” [but] “we still have to keep the city aware and not let them forget us.”
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Fire Truck Purchase Anxieties Have Roots in a Past Administration
Former Mayor Used Westmoreland Truck as Collateral on Election Equipment
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Why do Westmoreland residents appear leery of receiving a new fire truck for their station? The actions of a previous administration and the community’s dreams of a new fire station represent two of the anxieties said Joyce Clark, a member of the Westmoreland Neighborhood Association.
“We hate to hold the thing against [the new administration], but we have to be protective and try to keep things like that from happening [again],” Clark explained, adding, “There’s been a sore spot about our truck in Westmoreland from when Mayor Dean was the Mayor. Is the administration trying to sell us a bill of goods, “ she pondered? “That’s the kind of memory that a lot of us who have been around for years in the community [have].”
Under the Dean administration the Westmoreland fire truck was used as collateral to purchase election equipment.
Following a special audit of the City of Huntington and the Huntington Sanitary Board in January 2002 by Glen B. Gainer III, WV State Auditor, one of the findings was that then Mayor Jean Dean “put up a fire truck as collateral for a line of credit from Sun Trust Leasing to pay their part on a new election system that the Cabell County Commission purchased. On July 19, 2000 a wire payment was made by Sun Trust Leasing to the county commission in the amount of $55,900 for the city’s share. There is no statutory authority for a city to borrow money in this manner. In addition, the fire truck had been paid for with excess levy and fire fee moneys, which are dedicated revenues.”
Ironically, the infractions cited by Gainer came at a time when the City of Huntington and the Huntington Sanitary Board were embroiled in financial disputes . Last week, Council chairman Jim Insco called for a meeting with Sanitary Board members to discuss a shortfall and bonds; they chose not to show up.
(Editor’s Note: The Gainer audit regarding the Dean Administration also revealed an unapproved $3.6 million dollar sewer project, procurement of professional services without bids, use of revolving Water Development Authority money improperly, improper sewer tap fees, alteration of public records, use of grant money to cover general fund operating deficits and improper interest earnings on tax exempt bonds. You can read his summary by downloading a PDF here. Currently, the incinerator is again on the table. A September 24,2003, letter from WV DEP stated it could not be used for incineration of solid waste. Download that letter HERE.)
By virtue of its location in Wayne County, the Westmoreland portion of Huntington becomes subject to two taxes. They pay municipal fees like all Huntington residents, but their county fees go to the Wayne County Commission. The Wayne Commission sends about $40,000 a year in tax revenue for a dedicated fund for Westmoreland fire protection.
At the time of the mortgaged fire truck, the 1992 model Westmoreland vehicle was the newest in Huntington’s fleet, speculated Clark.
Thus, spending $200,000 for a down payment on a new truck with Westmoreland funds raises red-flag waving hairs for some of those residents. The remaining payment of $147,680 would be financed over seven years with the money coming from the fire levy fund.
District One Councilman Jim Ritter served at the time of the mortgaged truck fiasco. Clark acknowledged that Ritter is “passionate” about his neighborhood and the city. During a recent council meeting, he noted that his physician had told him to maintain his emotions at a level balance.
“I worry about him,” his constituent said, “I’m afraid he’s going to have a heart attack or stroke at a meeting.”
One of the reasons expressed by the city for moving the older truck to the W. 14th Street station concerns lack of space at the Westmoreland station built in 1926. Some residents believe that a new fire station, not a new truck, is a preference. “They’ve been discussing [the new station] for years, and [the fire department/ administration responds] you do not need a new station . You have one of the better ones in the city; it’s sound,” Clark said. “It’s the regular kind of excuses.”
The new station built at 14th Street West cost about $2 million dollars. “We’ve got almost one-fourth of that, plus approximately $40,000 a year coming from the Wayne County Commission.”
Residents had discussed obtaining stimulus funds to add to the approximately $400,000 which the Westmorland fund has available. “They said it was too late to apply; there will be too much competition. They acted like they didn’t want to apply,” Clark said. Residents question that since the current truck would still be a reserve, what does it need to remain at the Westmoreland station and apply the saved funds for a new station there?
Clark’s aware finance, fire and administration “see [the fire truck] as a good move,” but they are not thinking down to the “grassroots level” of what this means to the residents. “When there is a major fire, all of the trucks go out,” Clark said, adding, “I know lots of times our truck goes out into Huntington.” She continued that the sharing is part of being a good neighbor, but “you can be a good neighbor without giving your neighbor everything that’s in your savings.”
Using $50,000 to $100,000 out of that fund MIGHT not raise questions,” if we saw it was beneficial to our fire station.”
Earlier, Joe Rardin, a member of the fire protection committee, said in a published report that “we want to be on good terms with the mayor, but we want him to understand that we don’t want him coming back and shaking us down. We’re not a piggy bank.”
Mayor Wolfe , who at the City Council meeting, suggested the residents did not see the broad picture, will attend tonight’s meeting of the Westmoreland Neighborhood Association @ 6:30 p.m. at the Westmoreland Woman’s Club.
Wolfe does not oppose a new station, but thinks the benefits of a state of the art truck have been overlooked.
In addition, the City faces a January 1, 2010 environmental deadline for purchase of over the road diesel engines with tanks. Tanks to scrub nitrogen oxide will add $15,000-$20,000 to the cost of a truck plus another $100 to $200 in urea fluid for every 50 gallons of fuel used.
Despite the need for reassurances about the past, Clark said, the relationship between the city and Westmoreland’s neighborhood association “have come a long way” [but] “we still have to keep the city aware and not let them forget us.”
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