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Alfalfa County discusses multiple fire-department resignations; board keeps interim chief pending regional talks
Summary
Alfalfa County commissioners discussed recent resignations in the Nescatunga volunteer fire department and agreed to keep an interim chief in place while neighboring departments consider taking oversight or offering support.
Alfalfa County commissioners discussed recent resignations in the Nescatunga volunteer fire department and agreed to keep an interim chief in place while neighboring departments consider taking oversight or offering support.
During the meeting, a board member said the fire chief at Nescatunga (identified in the meeting as Scott) resigned following an incident that also involved two firefighters, who the speaker said had resigned. The speaker described one individual as having been arrested on a charge the speaker characterized as “contributing to a minor”; another was described in the transcript as having prior probation status. Those descriptions were made by meeting participants; the transcript does not provide police or court records.
Board members discussed response-time requirements for a fire chief, saying that neighboring chiefs advised candidates should live within roughly 10 miles or 20 minutes’ response time of the station. Commissioners suggested tabling a permanent appointment and asked neighboring departments — identified in the meeting as Jet, Byron and Cherokee — to meet and consider formally adopting or supervising Nescatunga’s department for coverage and oversight.
The board had previously named Scott Lee interim fire chief; several speakers said they supported keeping Lee in the interim role until the county can consult with neighboring departments and determine whether one of them can provide oversight. One board member said, “Let's just leave it as it is, and let's let Cherokee, Jet, and Byron have a meeting and let them discuss it.” Another said, “I would like for him to be able to keep that position.”
The meeting record shows a motion to retain Scott Lee as interim chief and a second, but the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or tally, nor does it show a final resolution in the record beyond members’ verbal agreement to continue the interim arrangement and pursue regional talks.
