It was only a month ago that the fire district's board decided it no longer wanted Waldron's staff performing those duties.
“I wonder why the county would pick Scott?” asked fire board trustee Glenn Green. “I find it kind of interesting.”
Since responsibility for reviewing subdivisions has fallen in the county's lap, staff members have attempted to quantify the mounting workload. Upward of 700 lots have been identified as potentially needing fire agency review in the near future.
In some cases, Frenchtown Rural Fire was paid in advance by developers and homeowners for this work. Now that the fire district has washed its hands of the responsibility, the county may ask for that money back. It could amount to thousands of dollars.
“We can't in good conscience charge (the citizens) again for the service,” said Deputy County Attorney Mike Sehestedt. “Frenchtown Fire was paid, and I don't think it's good that the general taxpayers of Missoula County foot that bill.”
Waldron has taken an extended leave of absence from the fire district, pending several legal claims against the fire board. In the last year, the relationship between folks elected to the board and the firefighters who work there has grown tenser - particularly the relationship between Waldron and the board.
Several weeks ago, Waldron's attorney sent a letter to the board, claiming the board breached his contract and created a hostile working environment, in part, because of its July decision to no longer allow firefighters to perform subdivision reviews.
“The board made the decision without requesting a staff report that would have detailed the ramifications of the decision,” Waldron said. “No weight was given to staff recommendations, and when the suggestion was made that they contact the county ... it was met with only negative comments about the county.”
Planners ask rural fire districts around the county to review proposed subdivisions to make sure there is sufficient access to water, appropriate locations for fire hydrants, roads wide enough for emergency vehicles and adequate space to turn around.
But the Frenchtown fire board needs to focus on fire protection rather than the enforcement of subdivision regulations, said Green, who was elected to the fire board in May.
He is proud of the work the board has accomplished to date.
“We feel we are making progress,” he said. “Some of these things being addressed never were before.”
Many of the fire board members were hesitant to comment to the Missoulian, partly because of the pending personnel and legal matters involving Waldron and the board - and also because few had little, if any, details about the contract between the county and the fire chief.
“I don't have any comment until I investigate it further,” said board Chairman Mitchell Hicks.
With the fire district no longer reviewing subdivisions, the responsibility falls to Missoula County as the agency ultimately charged with the public's health, welfare and safety.
County employees say time was of the essence. The construction of several homes came to a halt pending fire review.
“All we are trying to do is make sure the poor people out there can build their houses before the snow falls,” said Roger Millar, director of the Office of Planning and Grants, the agency that reviews subdivisions.
“We had perfectly innocent citizens sitting in this bureaucratic catch-22,” Sehestedt said.
The county went with Waldron because “he's the chief of the Frenchtown Fire District. He's on leave. He can contract for services. He's knowledgeable about the area and probably the most qualified person,” Millar said.
Waldron is also the acting county fire warden. He has reviewed subdivisions in the past in other areas of the county.
Waldron's decision to enter into a contract with the county was his own, he said Thursday. The board made its decision and he made his.
“I'm just trying to help people build their homes,” he said.
County officials never intended to add insult to injury by hiring the leader of an agency that was just directed to no longer do these reviews.
“We didn't see a lot of options right now,” said Commissioner Jean Curtiss.
Waldron was paid $200 per inspection to take care of several homeowners whose construction plans had come to a standstill pending review. For inspections in the future, he'll receive $100 a lot. The contract is not to exceed $5,000.
The short-term contract lasts through December. The county will then advertise for someone or some agency to take on the job long term. It's possible for Waldron to provide this service long term if he applies and is the most qualified applicant.
Meanwhile, the county is also in the process of appointing a new member to the Frenchtown Fire Board after longtime trustee Tom Mahlum resigned this month, partly to spend more time with family and partly because of philosophical differences with other members of the board.
There are several applicants so far. The county has received considerable feedback about the appointments. Next Tuesday is the last day for residents living inside the Frenchtown fire district to throw their names in the hat.
“We are looking for someone who does not have a personal agenda, but the community's best interest at heart,” Curtiss said.
Curtiss encouraged Frenchtown residents to get involved in what's happening in their community, and asked that the public give the new fire board trustees the benefit of the doubt.
“I don't think the new fire board members are purposefully malicious, but they are just trying to ask questions and do what's best for the community,” she
said. “You never learn anything if you don't ask questions.”
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com
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