The Bourbon Fire Department received a donation of $188,611 from a trust of the late Charles and Glendora Compton. Town Attorney Mark Wagner and Town Clerk Treasurer Kim Berger said they have been working for several months to provide information needed to verify certain aspects of the trust that was established some 20 years ago.
During Tuesday’s Town Board meeting Bourbon Fire Chief Brandon Chapman requested monies for a gear washer for the equipment. The request had been brought up in earlier meetings. There was also discussion around installing a ventilation system. Approval to move ahead on the requests was granted.
However, things became tense when Chapman said there is a communication problem between the council and his department. He indicated that there was confusion internally saying one volunteer had walked out of meeting and two others are leaving at the end of the year.
Chapman said, “I feel like no one took me seriously.” He then exchanged words with Council President Les McFarland over billing to the truck stop in the town. The truck stop owners requested that the fire department bring water to the station to aide in tank placement. Chapman said they used three trucks and eight volunteers over a four hour period.
The cost that McFarland said they agreed on was $1,000; however, only $850 was received. Chapman said he used a formula for water usage to arrive at the $850 figure.
Chapman said he was called at work over the request and he tried to work it in. McFarland asked if Chapman had told them it was a bad time to discuss it. McFarland said he was trying to offer them a way to make money and the funds received were split 50-50. McFarland said he wanted respect for the council’s decisions.
Carol Anders Correspondent
