Log Cabin Democrat Local News:Vilonia chief, assistant resign at board meeting 7/17/98

Published Friday, July 17, 1998

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Friday, July 17, 1998Vilonia chief, assistant resign at board meeting

Last modified at 11:29 a.m. on Friday, July 17, 1998

By BEAU WILCOX

Log Cabin Staff Writer

VILONIA EAST -- This community's rural fire department continues to try to fight fires, but some political and economic flames were fanned at an emergency board meeting Thursday night when the resignations of the chief and assistant chief were refused.

A petition, signed by 11 of the 16 members of the Vilonia East Volunteer Fire Department board, was recently submitted requesting the resignation of Assistant Fire Chief Billy Baker, a Vilonia police officer. Following that, Fire Chief Ronnie Fowlkes declared his intention to resign his position as well.

At Thursday's meeting, Baker and Fowlkes both said they were resigning and expressed discontent that the petition came, as Fowlkes said, "in the middle of the show." The board held elections at the beginning of the year.

"I'm resigning as of now," Fowlkes said, "because it's been nothing but bickering. ... I'm through."

Baker placed his pager and key on the table and announced that he wished to step down as well.

"If you all wanted to do this, it should have been done at the elections," he said, "not now, in the middle of the year."

Several of the board members present agreed that the reason for requesting Baker to step down was so he could concentrate on his other work for the Vilonia Police Department.

"I signed the petition because Billy has a lot of responsibilities in Vilonia," board member and firefighter Bernie Fulloway said. "It's nothing against Billy."

Those members said they simply wanted someone able to spend more active time with the fire department. But Baker said it was unlikely anyone could offer any more than he did.

"I hope you all find someone who does have the time," Baker said.

He also announced Thursday he joined the Vilonia Volunteer Fire Department. He said the Vilonia fire district has changed, and now includes his home. Baker added that he feels the petition is "pinpointing" him for the department's problems.

As the meeting drew to a close, and with tempers settling, Wilson moved to refuse both Fowlkes' and Baker's resignations. The vote was unanimous, and Fowlkes did not respond, presiding over the remainder of the meeting and adjourning it a few minutes later.

After adjournment, however, Baker told secretary Carol Fulloway that he did not accept the vote and was going to step down but remain with the fire department. But Fowlkes said that because the meeting had officially concluded, Baker's resignation could not be recorded in the minutes.

The prevailing sentiment among board members was there is a shortage of both manpower and monetary support.

Board member Mike Wilson said tempers should be cooled, and the fire department should work to add more members or at least get more participation from its current members.

"What we need to do is find out why we're down here; we're not here to get glory," he said. "It's not what you think, but it's what you do that counts. We just need to drop this mess, go home and come back clean to our next regular meeting."

Vilonia vs. Vilonia East

Members discussed Vilonia East's struggle to be a separate entity from Vilonia's fire department. Many asserted that Vilonia's department members view the Vilonia East department as "a joke."

Firefighter and board member Larry Lambert said he is particularly disappointed that the Vilonia East department has not been receiving calls to assist at fires, traffic accidents and other emergencies. Lambert is trained for emergency response.

"What did I spend nine months in training for emergency squad for?" Lambert asked. "I want us to be able to help."

Two recent accidents -- one near County Line Road and another near the junction of highways 64 and 107 -- prompted Lambert to speak. He said he wanted the department's membership to be paged to emergencies like those, but Baker insisted that the Vilonia Volunteer Fire Department must be called to the scene first because of its emergency response personnel and equipment.

Fowlkes added that liability becomes a question. During one of the meeting's rare heated moments, Lambert questioned why Vilonia East was not paged to a recent shooting.

"Why weren't we called to assist?" he asked.

"Because," Fowlkes said strongly, "it's not our place."

Lambert told Baker and Fowlkes he was upset that Vilonia East members were not being paged because the Vilonia department felt they were incompetent.

"The Vilonia Fire Department bad-mouths us, Billy; you know who they are," Lambert said. "They think we're a joke."

Baker said that Vilonia Fire Department does want the Vilonia East Fire Department to change its name. Many of the members had identified that as a petty request, but Baker said it was to eliminate postal employees and other officials from confusing the two departments.

Board member Roy Rains said the problems can be traced to "some bad feelings between the Vilonia and Vilonia East fire departments in the past."

The Vilonia East Volunteer Fire Department was formed about 15 years ago, and Lambert said the department's fire jurisdiction covers roughly everything within four miles of the station, located on Fire Station Road. The department has two trucks at the station and two outside vehicles for assistance.

Board members Gary and Joan Adams and Ronnie Martin were absent. The board meets again at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the station.

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