Two proposals that could determine the future of Devine Volunteer Fire & Rescue were laid before the public Aug. 12 during an open hearing conducted by the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2, governing the finances of fire protection locally.
One proposal, presented by Clint Cooke, Chief of Medina County ESD 1, calls for that agency to assume direct responsibility for DVF&R operations. ESD1 would replace the DVF&R Volunteer Fire Board which currently handles fire department management.
Cooke said the situation that Devine finds itself in regarding recent fire protection controversies is nothing new to Texas communities.
“This has happened over and over across the state,” Cooke said.
The second proposal regarding DVF&R’s future, presented by Eric Quintanilla, new president of the volunteer fire board, presented plans for organization restructuring in what he referred to as “a hard reset.”
“I’ve had two weeks to really try to unpack a lot of things,” he said. “There are a lot of things that I saw where things could very much be improved.”
Complete video coverage of the public hearing is posted on the Devine News YouTube channel.
Recent improprieties haunting DVF&R include more than $76,000 in missing department funds and management issues.
The ESD2 board authorized…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
