Resident accuses Whitfield County fire staff of misusing vehicles bought with relief funds

During public comment, Vic Carpenter accused the fire department and some battalion staff of misusing vehicles purchased with federal COVID-relief funds and questioned oversight of fuel and vehicle usage.

"They were bought with the COVID money, the relief money for the fire departments... Now, your battalion people run around in them, buying horse feed and all this other garbage," Carpenter said, alleging that staff used vehicles for personal tasks and pointing to parked trucks at headquarters as evidence.

Chair Javin Jensen responded briefly, saying, "I can't comment on personnel issues," and the exchange ended with no administrative finding or detailed accounting offered in the meeting's noon session. The allegation was not substantiated or refuted during the hearing; Carpenter said he would return for the evening session to continue remarks.

The claim raises oversight and asset-management questions for county staff; no formal investigation or response was recorded in the transcript of the noon meeting.