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After unpaid bills and governance gaps, county places Hancock Rescue Squad under interim oversight
Summary
Following an internal review that found unpaid invoices (some several years old) and administrative vacancies, the board authorized a memorandum of understanding to allow county emergency services to assume interim oversight of Hancock Rescue Squad; the vote was unanimous.
Washington County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize a memorandum of understanding placing the Hancock Rescue Squad under interim county oversight after county staff reported governance and financial weaknesses at the volunteer rescue squad.
David Hayes, director of Emergency Services, told the board that multiple administrative officers had resigned at Hancock, creating uncertainty about fiduciary controls and operations. The division’s review identified unpaid invoices (the bulk of which date from two to three years ago, with some invoices up to four years old) and a running total of unpaid bills the division estimated at roughly $70,000–$75,000. Hayes said the county is already performing interim functions — managing mail, stabilizing bill payment and instituting a financial spending plan — and asked the board to execute a formal MOU to authorize the Division of Emergency Services to assume administrative and operational oversight for up to 36 months.
Hayes described the arrangement as a temporary, discretionary oversight step aimed at ensuring uninterrupted emergency service delivery and proper stewardship of taxpayer funds: “We have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that taxpayer funds are accounted for and properly managed,” he told the board.
Questions from commissioners focused on the age and size of outstanding invoices, access to facilities (county staff ordered a rekeying of some offices and limited access to certain rooms and storage areas), and whether the county could work with the local fire and rescue association on a joint recovery plan. Staff said they would form a working group that could include association representatives and Hancock members while continuing to operate the service to avoid interruption.
The board approved the MOU and directed staff to continue an audit, stabilize financial operations, and return with recommendations on next steps, including potential restoration of Hancock’s independent governance if conditions improve.
