At a June 11 special meeting called by the board of commissioners of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 48, the board voted to assemble a five-person committee to address grievances posed to the board by the West I-10 Volunteer Fire Department. At the meeting commissioners said the committee will include two members of the ESD board and three external members with no ties to either entity.
The committee is expected to review the grievances and arrive at a decision for further action within two to three weeks, the board said.
The two entities have been embroiled in a legal battle since Harris County ESD No. 48 announced in 2014 it sought to move paid staff of West I-10 VFD onto the county ESD No. 48 payroll and use a dual-model of emergency service that incorporates both paid and volunteer staff.
According to an official statement from Harris County ESD No. 48 president Marshall Kramer, the dual model required having a fire chief at West I-10 who is employed by the county. Fire Chief Jeffrey Hevey, an ESD No. 48 employee, served as West I-10 VFD chief until June 5, when the West I-10 VFD board voted to relieve him from duty.
At that time West I-10 board president Jose Ramirez filed a list of seven grievances against Hevey, these are the grievances to be addressed by the newly formed ESD No. 48 committee.
At the June 11 meeting, ESD No. 48 Vice President Frank Freeman resigned from his position, effective immediately, in order to help ease the transition to the new model of emergency service. He stated his belief that the new model is best for the community.
The official statement from Kramer said Hevey remains an employee of ESD No. 48 and the delivery of emergency services in the district will continue uninterrupted during the service transition.
Meetings
Katy City Council
Meets at 6:30 p.m. on July 13.
910 Avenue C, Katy
www.cityofkaty.com
Harris County Commissioners Court
Meets at 10 a.m. on July 14 and 28.
1001 Preston Ave., Ste. 938, Houston
713-755-5113
www.harriscountytx.gov
Fort Bend County Commissioners Court
Meets at 1 p.m. on July 7, 14
500 Jackson St., Richmond
281-341-8608
www.fortbendcountytx.gov
Waller County Commissioners Court
Meets at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays
836 Austin St., Hempstead
www.co.waller.tx.us
