City council hears citizen complaint

Lifelong resident Marilyn Reeves took to the podium before the Iowa Park City Council Dec. 13 protesting the fire department’s stance on agricultural burns.
“This is a problem that should have never been a problem,” she said.
Reeves sought supervision of the city’s volunteer firefighters last month during an agricultural burn she scheduled on her property. Her request was denied.
Fire Chief Andy Payne sent a letter to Reeves stating that volunteer firefighters are not required to perform private services despite a homeowner’s donation to the department.
The city’s firefighters serve voluntarily and all services require time spent away from families, property, jobs, hobbies and leisure.
Reeves said she offered the fire department a $200 donation to visit her property during her burn in December. She argued that volunteer firefighters have supervised agricultural burns on her property in the past.
Payne disagreed with Reeves, claiming that he has never supervised a burn on her property in the 25 years he has served on the fire department.
For more on last week’s council meeting, see this week’s print edition.