In recent developments reported by HeraldNews.com, Plainfield Fire Protection District Chief David Riddle has announced a halt to specific expenditures following an acknowledgment that the district might have misused public funds in the past year. This decision follows revelations from the Edgar County Watchdogs, who uncovered that between August 2014 and November 2015, the fire district spent over $11,900 on what were considered questionable purchases made using fire district credit cards. These purchases ranged from Christmas gifts, edible arrangements, flowers, massages, food, and even parties.
"Immediate changes are necessary," Riddle stated. "I've instructed my team to cease buying flowers or edible arrangements for the immediate family members of those who have passed away."
Riddle also expressed his intention to take a more active role in overseeing the district's Foreign Fire Tax Board, which faced criticism from the watchdog group for spending over $12,000 on personalized blankets and throw pillows for staff and others during November and December. "This kind of spending needs to stop right away," Riddle emphasized.
Kraft, a representative from the watchdog group, welcomed Riddle's response, stating, "We usually ask that they stop these practices unless there's full reimbursement to the taxpayers. But this is a step in the right direction." The report highlighted several instances of such spending, including over $1,325 for the annual Turkey Raffle charity event, $1,300 for Christmas gifts, $1,490 for a retirement party, $724 for edible arrangements, $165 for flowers, $714 for a hog roast, $67.99 for corncob pipes, $75 for massages, and $6,045 for food and parties.
Riddle admitted that some of these expenses, like flowers and gifts given to the families of deceased individuals, could be justified as supporting the fire department. However, he acknowledged that these might not be the best uses of taxpayer money. He noted that many of these traditions likely originated decades ago when the district operated as a volunteer organization.
As the new chief, Riddle has taken swift action to address these concerns, aiming to restore transparency and accountability within the district. His efforts have been met with cautious optimism from the community and the watchdog group alike. While there is still work to be done, Riddle's commitment to reform marks a promising start.
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