ESD#2 demands separate bank accounts and truck maintenance records of Devine VFD after criminal allegations

By Anton Riecher
Citing recent legal controversies involving Devine Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board president Todd Summers announced at the board’s March 18 meeting its intention to renegotiate the contract with DVF&R to strengthen financial accounting and equipment maintenance requirements.
The board plans to confer with its attorney to determine “if there is a means through the contract to make sure some of these things don’t happen again,” Summers said.
DVF&R office administrator and suspect Heather Schultz was arrested in December on a charge of tampering with evidence related to more than $76,000 in missing department funds. In late February, a misdemeanor count of official oppression by sexual harassment was filed against Devine Fire Chief Greg Atkinson.
Atkinson resigned on March 4, one day before the ESD2 board voted to authorize a forensic audit of the DVF&R finances for the past three years. The action was recommended by Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown and other county officials.
Summers’ announcement came after a 40-minute executive session behind closed doors with their attorney. Uppermost on the board’s list of concerns is closer monitoring of maintenance records on ESD2-owned equipment in use by DVF&R, most important of which is the fire trucks.
“I can remember when Greg got here he complained all the time that the previous chief never did any maintenance on the vehicles,” Summers said. “I can remember him here telling us that. And he was telling us how great a job he was doing.”
However, at the ESD board’s March 5 special meeting it was reported that no maintenance has been done on the trucks since Atkinson has been here, Summer said.
“We would love to see the maintenance records on the equipment for the last three years if you have that,” he said, directing his request to DVF&R officials on hand. “That will help us see what’s out there.”
The bottom line of any future contract negotiation is that the equipment belongs to ESD2, Summers said.
“You guys are using it so, going forward, we are certainly going to be pushing harder…”LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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!