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Wythe County supervisors approve Ivanhoe fire department officer slate after public comment and closed session
Summary
After public comment from a department representative and a closed-session review, the Wythe County Board of Supervisors approved a slate of officers for the Ivanhoe Fire Department and discussed community concerns about recent social-media posts and allegations.
Corey Chapel, representing the Ivanhoe Fire Department, presented a new slate of officers and asked the Wythe County Board of Supervisors to publicly acknowledge that the department had committed no wrongdoing following recent local social-media posts.
Chapel said Chief Jared Price resigned on Feb. 10 and that the department held an emergency membership meeting the same day to nominate and vote on new line officers. “There was no wrongdoing on the department itself either as far as running the calls for personnel or financial,” Chapel told the board, and he asked the county to release a statement to help counter community rumors.
A nut graf: The board heard Chapel’s remarks during the public-comment period, discussed the matter in closed session under Virginia law for personnel matters, and then returned to open session and approved the officer slate presented by the Ivanhoe Fire Department.
In the public-comment portion, Chapel asked for the county to affirm that the department had acted properly and to help restore public confidence. He described the department as “a strong department” with active training and asked the board to allow the new officers to serve and to protect both members and the community.
Multiple supervisors responded in public session, saying they had not seen evidence of illegal conduct but that issues had been raised that required review. Chairman (unnamed) and other supervisors noted the board would follow up by phone and email and that the matter had been considered in closed session as a personnel item.
After the closed-session certification required by Virginia law, a supervisor moved to approve the slate of officers presented by the Ivanhoe Fire Department; that motion was seconded and the board approved the slate by roll-call vote.
Ending: Chapel said he would give the county contact information and expected a follow-up by phone and email. The board did not outline a public statement at the meeting; County staff indicated follow-up communication to Chapel would occur after the meeting.
