Cottonwood Shores Council, fire department iron out contract payments

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Cottonwood Shores City Council made good on a second payment to the Cottonwood Shores Volunteer Fire Department (CWSVFD) for the fulfillment of two more of the fire department's contract goals.

In the city council meeting on Thursday, March 3, city officials presented the $5,000 check to the fire department's liaison as payment for ticking off two more goals on an annual list agreed upon by the city and the CSVFD.

The recent payment brings the fire department to $13,500 since the two parties approved the new performance-based contract system in December. The city council is tasked with approving the release of funds for each goal achieved, according to the contract.

The city council approved a $2,500 invoice because two new personnel passed the Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) test (items 1-4).

The council also approved a $2,500 invoice for presenting to the city a certified audit of the department’s financial records for 2015. John Marr, CWSVFD member and liaison with the city, initially presented the audit-related invoice to the council at the Feb. 18 meeting but a misunderstanding arose about the timing of paperwork submittal, causing the agenda item to be postponed.

At the Feb. 18 meeting, Donald Orr, Cottonwood Shores mayor, suggested to the council that they not approve the invoice because it had not been submitted by the Friday before the meeting.

At the March 3 meeting, Marr said he gave the audit to Roger Wayson, councilman and city liaison with the CWSVFD on Feb. 7, or 11 days before the February meeting.

For more on this story, see The Highlander on Friday, March 11.