By Bonnie Culverhouse

Fire District 3 sports a permanent chief following Tuesday’s meeting of the Fire District Board.

Shawn Woody has taken over the chief’s chair following a month-long stint as interim and the resignation of assistant chief Tyler Strickland.

In March, Strickland was facing termination for documented policy violations by the commission, however, in the end board members voted to suspend him for 90 days.

Commissioner Gary Loftin said Woody inherited a serious situation and has done well.

“He’s jumped on it,” Loftin said.

Woody was warned he was coming into a “hot bed.”

“And he’s really stepped up,” Loftin said.

“I couldn’t do it without my team,” he replied. “We’re not done; we’re getting there slowly by surely.”

Loftin agreed, pointing at Assistant Chief David Cotty Jr. and other firefighters in the room.

“David, these guys back here, all of them,” he said.

Woody said the fire department, which has grown from 4 to 18 members, responded to 23 calls in April, as well as six downed trees, dog bites and a power pole fire.

Throughout the meeting, commissioners commented on the bad condition of fire trucks, equipment and stations allegedly left by the previous firefighters.

Currently, there are two vehicles out of service – one at a body shop awaiting repairs from an accident. Reserve Engine #1 is in Fire Station #1. It is in need of lights, a power steering box, door latches, pulls and electrical wiring.

The commission discussed hiring an exterminator – possibly on contract – for all their stations, but specifically Station #2 that had significant trash inside that brought in rodents and bugs. The back wall of that station also suffered from damage where fire trucks were backed into it.

The district has a new Facebook page, also due to past issues. To follow them on Facebook, they are listed now as Fire District Number Three.