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Tontitown City Fire Department Referendum Heads To Special Election

TONTITOWN (KFSM)- According to a Tontitown alderman, a referendum that would repeal an ordinance that disbanded the municipal fire department has been approved ...
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TONTITOWN (KFSM)- According to a Tontitown alderman, a referendum that would repeal an ordinance that disbanded the municipal fire department has been approved by the Washington County Clerk and the Election Commission, which means it will now be put on the ballot for a special election in June.

On March 3, the Tontitown City Council passed two ordinances that contracted out all fire protection and emergency services to the Tontitown Area Volunteer Fire Department for two years.

The TAVFD took over on April 1 and all employees and volunteers at the municipal fire department were terminated via letters from Mayor Paul Colvin. The mayor also sent an email to at least one of the former employees that he couldn’t appeal his discharge because his employment was terminated by a city policy change, not by the mayor’s office.

Alderman Joe Edgemon needed 150 signatures to force a special election that will ask Tontitown voters whether they want to repeal one of the ordinances passed by the City Council. Earlier this month, the City Recorder certified 187 signatures. After the referendum was approved by the Washington County Clerk and Election Commission this week it’ll be put on the ballot for the June 9 election.

Edgemon said he also included an emergency clause in his referendum, which was meant to keep the transfer of services from the municipal fire department to the TAVFD from happening until the vote. Edgemon said he spoke with the fire chief and with some of the firefighters who’ve been fired and said they are willing to come back if voters repeal the ordinance passed the City Council.

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