Dateline: April 6, 2006

City aldermen hear frustrations of firemen

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Clarendon Aldermen last Tuesday got an earful from volunteer firemen who felt they were not receiving the proper respect from the city.

Fire Chief Delbert Robertson told the board that a city official asked a member of his department who would be paying for the water the firemen were using while the I-40 wildfire was being fought on March 12.

“We were told that [City Superintendent] Jim [Roberts] asked Ernie [Johnston] while he was filling up with water,” Robertson said. “We feel it was inappropriate.”

He said the department only used 5,000 gallons during the fire and said if it were a problem, the department would reimburse the city. But he said the comment made the department feel like it wasn’t being supported.

Robertson also said his department was upset that City Hall did not lower the United States flag to half-staff during longtime volunteer fireman Lloyd McCord’s funeral on March 14.

“That guy gave so much time to the city, we felt we owed it to him,” Robertson said. “We felt the city should have been there.”

Alderman Michael Tibbets said he agreed the city should have lowered the flag for McCord’s funeral, but Mayor Tex Selvidge and other aldermen disagreed. Selvidge noted that the city got called for lowering the flag during former sheriff Jimmy Thompson’s funeral.

“Are you going to lower it when I die?” Alderman Bobbie Kidd asked.

“Where do you do you stop?” Alderman Mark White replied.

Robertson gave the board a report from an Internet site saying it is permissible for individuals to lower their flags when they feel its appropriate, but City Hall was informed by the offices of both Congressman Mac Thornberry and Sen. John Cornyn that only the president or the governor can order flags to half-staff.

Addressing the issue of the water, Mayor Selvidge said he understood there was a possibility for the city to be reimbursed by the federal or state government for the water that was used and only wanted to find out if that were true. He said it was never expected that the department or the county would be required to reimburse the city.

Other firemen addressing the board included Pat Robertson, Jeremy Powell, and David Pitts. They touched on topics ranging from the city’s lack of participation at a prayer meeting for firemen to the mood of residents toward the city regarding its support for the department.

Firemen also asked about paid time off to fight fires for city employees who are members of the department. But board members said city policy already provides for that.

“I think most of this is miscommunication,” Tibbets said. “You need to come to us if you have questions.”

Aldermen agreed that someone from the city should have attended the prayer meeting and McCord’s funeral, and Alderman Tibbets said letters should be written to the department and to McCord’s family expressing the city’s appreciation.

In other city business, the board approved a resolution canceling this year’s municipal election and declaring the unopposed candidates – Mark White, Janice Knorpp, and Tommy Hill – as being duly re-elected.