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Business owner raises conduct concerns about Airway Heights fire inspector; ex-commissioner files complaint against mayor
Summary
During public comment, business owner Kayla Cortelli alleged repeated unprofessional conduct by a fire inspector and said the city has scheduled a follow-up inspection; civil service commissioner Hank Beinecker read a formal complaint accusing Mayor Larry Bowman of falsifying a survey and seeking his resignation and an independent investigation.
Two public commenters raised concerns at the June 15 Airway Heights council meeting: a business owner reported unprofessional behavior by a fire inspector, and a civil service commissioner read a formal complaint against the mayor.
Kayla Cortelli, owner of American Fire Cash, told the council she experienced repeated issues with a fire inspector she identified as DC Story: four visits without mutually agreed scheduling, statements that the inspector did not make appointments, an instance when the inspector arrived with a police officer and a copy of the fire code, and unprofessional remarks about her COO. Cortelli said she requested bodycam footage and asked that a supervising chief be present during inspections; she reported that city staff scheduled a follow-up inspection for the next morning. City Manager Tripp acknowledged the scheduling could have been handled more simply and said staff would follow up with the business and the fire chief to get an inspection completed at a time that works for the owners.
Later in the public comment period, Hank Beinecker, a current civil service commissioner and former council member, read a formal complaint naming Mayor Larry Bowman as the respondent. Beinecker alleged the mayor falsified information about a survey at the Airway Heights Recreation Center that led to a 4-2 council vote to purchase two pieces of gym equipment costing approximately $7,800 from reserve funds. Beinecker requested an independent investigation, a written apology from the mayor, and resignation if the complaint is not resolved to his satisfaction. The complaint was entered into the record; council did not take immediate formal action on the complaint during the meeting.
Councilors and staff acknowledged the comments; staff committed to working with Cortelli to schedule and complete the inspection and to follow up on the public'record complaint process for the formal complaint.
