Folks, there appears to be nothing fair about the state funding going to Cleveland County Fire Departments. The Waco VFD gets $3 Million$ while the other 14 CC Fire Departments get much, much less. Or nothing!!
Please note that Robert A’s last article spoke only to the totally unfair funding distribution of the 2023 final budget where Waco Fire received $2.5 Million$. Many times, over what everybody else received. And some received nothing at all as previously stated.
THIS article refers to an article published by the Shelby Star on January 8, 2024 titled Waco Fire Department adds new fire truck, sets sights on new station. Folks, the link to this article as well as the Photo Op picture is provided below. Mostly to PROVE Robert A is NOT making up all this crazy Kevin Gordon stuff!!.
Let’s start with the Picture.
The picture shows a group standing in front of a firetruck at the Waco Fire Department. Folks, notice those three men in the center holding a blown-up Photo Op check. Those three men holding the check are State Rep Kelly Hastings, State Senator Ted Alexander and SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TIM MOORE!!!
The missing person from that picture is County Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon, who was also a previous Chief at the Waco Fire Department and still holds most of his own political fundraising events there. It is unknown whether or not the Waco Fire Department facilities are allowed to be used by any other political candidate, except for those like Hastings, Alexander and Moore who bring big checks made out to the unaccountable Waco Fire Department. Also note that the present Waco Fire Chief Chief is Kevin Gordons’s younger Brother.
It is very likely that many of the personnel from other Cleveland County Fire Departments might consider that the obvious political and financial links between Kevin Gordon, The Waco Fire Department, State officials Hastings, Alexander and Moore, especially around election times, are anything but fair, equitable, ethical or honest.
AS for Robert A, his often-used term, “I smell a rat” immediately comes to mind here!!” Most reasonable Cleveland County Citizens and voters who have read Robert A’s original article and then read this particular article from the Shelby Star are likely to smell that very same smell.
So, let’s look at this massive over-funding of the Waco Fire Department from ALL angles:
First, Robert A has plenty of first-hand knowledge about the Town of Waco. Robert A’s High School sweetheart lived in downtown Waco. When you google Waco, NC for more official statistics about Waco, you learn that in 2020 Waco had a grand total of 310 residents, 134 households and the population was dropping. There seemed to be absolutely NOTHING to justify the Waco Community Fire Department receiving such huge sums of North Carolina and Cleveland County taxpayer’s dollars. Especially when the other 14 Fire Departments received much less in comparison.
Next, The January 8, 2024 Shelby Star Article previously mentioned contained many things that constituted RED-FLAGS (or smells of dead rats) to Robert A’s understanding of how County Government is legally supposed to operate.
- The Star article stated that the Waco VFD had used the extra $500,000 from the previous year’s State Budget to purchase a new $530,000 Fire Truck as well as another $90,000 for equipment. Which exceeded the $500,000 from the State. But had sold an older fire truck to a town in Iowa to pay the difference. Later Waco said that the new Firetruck was to be used for a new satellite “substation” Fire Department that has not been built yet. Robert Aconcluded this was totally a bad business decision by Waco. It would have been smart for Waco to continue using the older, but ready for service older Fire Truck for the years until that new sub-station Fire Department was built and paid for. And how did Waco know more big bucks would be coming their way so soon. And, if they did know more cash was coming, wouldn’t it have been a better judgement if Waco and the County had re-tasked that older Fire Truck for use at another Cleveland County Fire Department that had been shunned by Kelly Hastings, Ted Alexander and Tim Moore as not deserving of an equitable distribution of State and County taxdollars. Obviously, the Waco VFD “team”, including Kevin Gordon, are NOT TEAM players within the 15 Cleveland County Fire Department system.
- This so-called “new” Waco VFD substation. Who will be purchasing the land and paying for any cost overruns on that pet project? Has the Cleveland County Commissioners, under the poor leadership of Chairman Kevin Gordon developed any such plans? Or is the Waco VFD a Rogue Fire Department who thinks that THEY know what is best for all of Cleveland County and taxpayer cash will just be funneled their way without justification and accountability. Remember how that worked when the Commissioners eliminated the three Cleveland County Rescue Squads and forced them into the County Wide EMS? And losing $12 Million dollar$ per year in the process? So much for Kevin Gordon lack of leadership and poor judgement.
- And, last but not least, per the Star Article, the Waco VFD says their purpose in life is to create savings in the cost of certain people’s Homeowners Insurance premiums. No, Waco VFD!! No, Kevin Gordon!! The Sole Purpose of ALL of Cleveland County Fire Departments is to save the lives and property, when possible, of Cleveland County citizens in case of a fire on their premises. Anything else is coincidental.
Folks, the link to that January 8, 2024 Shelby Star is provided below for your convenience. Also, the Picture associated with that Article.is also provided. A close examination of that picture clearly shows Kelly Hastings, Ted Alexander and Tim Moore holding that “blown-up” photo-op check. Perhaps, someday, Kelly, Ted and Tim, along with Kevin Gordon, will be bringing such a check to YOUR Fire Department. Along with a Shelby Star photographer. But Robert A recommends that you don’t hold your breath until that happens.
Folks, the cure to all these shenanigans is shown below:
Elect Robert A Williams for Cleveland County Commissioner in 2024.
This is the campaign sign that cannot be bought or stolen!!
Robert A recommends all CC citizens go vote on Primary Election Day, March 5, 2024. YOU will soon b e glad that you did.