Excerpts from HeraldNews.com:
Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief David Riddle recently announced that he has instructed staff to halt the purchase of certain items, following an admission that the district may have misused public funds on questionable expenses in the past year.
This decision followed a report by the Edgar County Watchdogs, which revealed that between August 2014 and November 2015, the fire district spent over $11,900 on what they considered questionable purchases made with fire department credit cards. These included Christmas gifts, edible arrangements, flowers, massages, food, and parties.
"The changes are happening right away," Riddle stated. "I've told staff that we won't be buying flowers or edible arrangements for immediate family members of those who passed away, among other things."
Riddle also mentioned that he will now take a more active role in overseeing the district’s Foreign Fire Tax Board, which had previously come under scrutiny for spending over $12,000 on 150 personalized blankets and throw pillows for staff and others in November and December.
"Those types of purchases will stop immediately," Riddle added.
Kraft, a representative from the watchdog group, praised Riddle's response. "That’s all we can ask for," Kraft said. "Unless there’s reimbursement for the taxpayers from whoever was responsible for the purchases, we just want them to stop."
The credit card charges included over $1,325 for the annual Turkey Raffle charity auction, $1,300 in Christmas gifts, $1,490 for a retirement party, $724 in edible arrangements, $165 in flowers, $714 for a hog roast, $67.99 for corncob pipes, $75 for massages, and $6,045 for food and events.
Riddle admitted that some of the watchdog group’s findings were valid, particularly regarding the tradition of sending flowers and small gifts to the families of deceased individuals. "I can make a case that some of these purchases support the fire department," Riddle said. "But on the other hand, it might not be the best use of taxpayer money."
Riddle took over as chief about a year ago, but he believes many of these purchases were part of long-standing traditions from when the district was still a volunteer organization decades ago.
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