A complaint filed by a resident against Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox and his department was addressed by Alderman Steve Gladden and others at Monday night’s Bryant City Council meeting.
Wayne Downey, a Bryant resident, claimed in a letter to Gladden that Cox went on an uninvited call to JJ’s Truck Stop between Benton and Malvern during an incident involving a DuPont chemical tanker on March 8, and consequently missed a house fire call in Bryant.
Gladden said that authorization was given to Cox to visit the scene at JJ’s by Haskell Fire Chief Brian Cotten, who was at JJ’s before the Saline County Office of Emergency Management arrived on the scene.
“Cox did have an adequate request,” Gladden said, noting that neither the Saline County Office of Emergency Management nor Benton Fire Chief Ben Blankenship requested Cox to go to the scene.
However, Blankenship, who served as an incident commander at JJ’s, asked Cox to assume command for him and said that Cox “did a good job,” Gladden said.
Cox received the call from Cotten around 12:10 p.m. on March 8 and arrived at JJ’s at 12:27, Gladden said. Cox then called for backup in the form of two utility trucks and two trailers and then dispatched four more firefighters to the scene, Gladden said.
Cox asked firefighters from Alexander to come to Bryant on stand by, Gladden said.
At 5:54 p.m., the Bryant Fire Department received a house fire call and firefighters were dispatched at 5:55 p.m., Gladden said.
Two fire trucks, one ladder truck and 12 firefighters reached the house, which is about 1.5 miles from the central station on Arkansas 5, at 5:59 p.m., Gladden said. Battalion Chief Mike Mcfarland took command of the situation, Gladden said.
At that time, Cox dispatched Battalion Chief Brian Watson to the central fire station for backup, Gladden said.
The fire was under control in 20 minutes and the project was completed by 8:28 p.m., Gladden said.
“I believe that our fire department performed quite well and our chief did a good job,” Gladden said.
“He received valuable training in hazmat, working under one of the best hazmat workers in the state,” Gladden said, referring to Blankenship.
“DuPont even paid the bill,” Gladden said, noting that DuPont had approved payment of more than $18,000 to the Bryant Fire Department for its help at JJ’s.
“That money goes back into the hazmat fund,” Cox said.
“Chief Cox did an exceptional job,” Bryant Mayor Larry Mitchell said. “He was asked to go to JJ’s truck stop and the Saline County Office of Emergency Management asked him to stay.”
“Our fire department responded in a very quick manner,” Mitchell said, referring to the house fire. “They contained the fire to one room.”
“I applaud Alderman Gladden for coming to me to find out the facts,” Cox said. “Your city was never unprotected. Your city will never go unprotected.”
Mitchell noted that the complaint was not filed by a resident of the house that suffered the fire.
Downey is a retired professional firefighter from Little Rock, Gladden said.
Mitchell said he wants residents to know that there is a formal complaint process available to them. “If they have a complaint, they can come to city hall and fill out a formal form,” he said.
Mitchell said Downey’s complaint was settled.
The council also approved an ordinance to waive competitive bidding to obtain a new, state-of-the art ladder truck for the fire department from SunbeltFire. The truck costs around $800,000 and will be paid in five annual payments, Cox said.
The fire department has been saving money in the budget to purchase the truck, Cox said.
The 2007 RLP 100-foot E-One Bronto fire truck will not be purchased until April, but Cox asked for $10,000 and a letter of intent to purchase in order to secure about $140,000 in savings for the city.
Incentives include $20,000 in equipment and a second year bumper-to-bumper warranty, in addition to a savings of about $100,000 off the base price if secured now, Cox said.
The truck “is a step in the right direction” to help the city reach an insurance rating of 2, Cox said. Currently Bryant has an ISO rating of 3. Lowering Insurance Service Office ratings helps reduce property insurance premiums.
Cox said the city can use the truck for 20 to 30 years.
The council also approved the job description of the new assistant fire chief position and amended fire pay scales to include the new salary.
Cox asked the aldermen to reduce his annual pay increase of 5 percent two 2 percent to mirror the pay raises for other firefighters.
Cox introduced Brandon Futch as the new assistant fire chief.
The council also approved an ordinance to authorize $175,000 in short-term financing to pursue remodeling plans of city offices, approved the $60,000 purchase of a John Deere tractor-mower for the street department, and approved the salary of new Animal Control Director Patricia Power.
Power previously served the city as animal control director for four years. Council members approved a salary of $16.28 per hour for Power.
Council members also approved an ordinance to annex six “islands” of land within the city limits of Bryant that have been completely surrounded by the city.
These islands include areas of Lombard and Hilltop Roads; areas along Arkansas 5; areas along Boone Road; railroad property near the new Saline County Regional Airport; land beside Owen Creek Mobile Home Park; and part of the Midland Farms subdivision along Arkansas 5.
Secretary LaVenia Jones informed the council that all residents or land owners in these areas had been informed of the proposed annexation and had the opportunity to attend a public hearing. Jones said she has received no opposition.
Alderman Larry Smart voted against the ordinance, citing concerns over zoning classification.
Alderman also approved an amendment of $40,000 to the wastewater budget in order to cover the costs of a sewer evaluation study. The city must perform the study to be in compliance with state regulations.
Council members approved an increase of $2,500 in safety programs for both water and sewer budgets. The $5,000 total was primarily taken out of personnel funds and is not a new cost for the city.
Council members approved the $5,000 purchase of a 2003 Dodge Durango for the water and sewer department. The car will be purchased from the police department and used by a new employee in the meter reading department.
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