Clinton Township VFD leadership, equipment discussed

BAINBRIDGE — The efficacy of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department is again in question. Apart from the resignation of its chief, concerns with funds and apparatuses are at issue.

The governing board of the Walnut Creek Fire Protection District accepted the resignation of Tony Camp as its chief at a meeting held at the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday.

Camp was tapped to head the fire department in August 2022. Beforehand, the district voided its previous contract with the department, in which concerns were expressed about its functioning without a qualified chief. This in turn was precipitated as Jack Giles resigned from the post.

Clinton Township Fire serves the district along with Bainbridge Fire. As operations are now, both have been dual-toned for emergencies in the area.

Board member Rusty Burch provided that Camp cited continual slander and flacking of his leadership as overarching causes for his resignation. Camp told the Banner Graphic directly that health and family issues were factors.

“That’s a hard pill to swallow, as a person, to be slandered the way that he was,” Burch commented. “Even the board has taken a lot of that, too. It’s not easy being up here, making the decisions we’re trying to make, and having ourselves ran down all over social media.”

This transitioned to the district being made aware of potentially misappropriated funds. Burch said the board and Deer Accounting have begun an investigation, but that the matter is now being considered a private one.

“It is a situation that we cannot tread on lightly, because it could have an impact on somebody’s life that is very negative,” Burch said. “We wanna make sure we’re 100 percent in the right before it moves on to the next stages.”

To a comment from Bainbridge Fire Lt. Eric Gibson about the Indiana State Police’s white collar crimes division eventually handling the investigation, Burch responded that it was a strong possibility.

“Sitting on that side of the table, I wouldn’t want anything to do with it,” Gibson said to that. “That’s what they’re there for, that’s what they specialize in.”

In the meantime, Clinton Township Fire has been headed by Bainbridge Fire Chief Kevin Thorson.

Much of the discussion revolved around how equipment has been used. Burch honed particularly on new turnout gear being bought for five members at Clinton Township, but of which there are only two active as of now.

“We currently have three sets of turnout gear that are not going to be used,” Burch noted of the nearly $20,000 invested in said gear. “This kinda ruffles my feathers, ‘cause we battle this all the time.”

Thorson noted that the turnout gear was purchased “off the rack” and not custom apart from their name patches. He added that gear can be shared between both departments, with the only difference being that Clinton Township’s is black.

Attention was turned to a dismantled truck and a hovercraft which Clinton Township Fire has in its possession.

The truck in question, previously a brush truck, was statedly intended by Camp to become a mini pumper for use especially in Van Bibber Lake. Even as it was a “great idea” for Burch, it remains an unfinished project.

Burch said the truck itself is currently at York Automotive, while a pump is sitting at Clinton Township Fire’s station. At this point, Burch related, a previously useable apparatus has to be put back into service.

“You’ve got a hydrated system out there (Van Bibber Lake),” Thorson said to the truck’s limited usage. “No matter what you do, it’s not gonna be a Class A pumper.”

Board member Mike Mahoy said the board was not initially made aware of a bed for the truck being purchased, as well as the pump. Gibson saw the construction as a problem when it comes to liability.

As to the hovercraft, which was acquired in the first quarter of 2023, Burch was blunt about it being a singular regret approving. The main focus of selling it, though, is complicated as it was purchased with local funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Burch posited that a dedicated rescue boat could be bought to replace the hovercraft. Thorson noted the board having to decide soon, providing that audits for such expenditures are expected.

“I don’t know that it does a lot of good to piecemeal,” attorney Charles Hostetter said, being briefly at odds with Gibson. “I think that that’s something you need to have investigated, and then come back and have suggestions and input from whoever.

“There’s no focus here as to the possible causes of action,” Hostetter added. “I think you gotta get all that information, and get it organized and get answers, and then make decisions.”

Ultimately as to Clinton Township’s having a new chief, Burch stated that a strong candidate will soon be interviewed and decided on by the board.

“We’re excited about this person; we think he’d be a good leader for our community,” Burch said. “He’s very respected, and I hope he’s excited to sit down and talk to us. Hopefully we can come to an agreement with him.”

In other business:

• Though Burch led this meeting, Mahoy took over from him as its president. Charlie Boller was also introduced as its new member to succeed Richard Cope, whose term ended on Dec. 31. The Putnam County Commissioners approved Boller at a regular meeting on Tuesday.

A retired Indiana State Police officer and a former Bainbridge firefighter himself, Boller had a hand when the district was established.

• The district’s fire protection contract with Clinton Township Fire was signed by Lee Price as its president. Meanwhile, Thorson signed its contract with Bainbridge Fire.

Deer Accounting’s Tiffany Deer, who handles the district’s financials, joined the board and Hostetter for the meeting.