What the story doesn't elaborate on is what discretionary spending power does the fire chief have, exactly? What's the written limit? Surely somewhere it's specified a city employee of such-and-such level has X amount of dollars they can spend out of the budget for whatever (Ticonderoga #2 pencils, for example).

Is the Fire Chief specifically required to contact the mayor's office for approval to spend money in these matters? Is that fact written down somewhere, or is it just "known"? On into the article, KFD spokesman Charlie Barker says, "We didn't get our request across to the Mayor's office in the manner it should have." Does that mean they were notified, just not in a proscribed manner that fits regular protocol (i.e. red tape) or they just weren't told at all?

Also, did he just write a check for the $100,000 from the KFD account? Where did the cash come from to pay for the trailer etc. up front?

What percentage is $100,000 out of the entire budget? Is it a significant amount, or a drop in the bucket?

There are a lot of unanswered questions that are raised by the story. Obviously there's not time in a TV news spot to cover everything, but still because of these ambiguities in the story, you don't know who was in the wrong, who screwed up, who miscommunicated and whether there's really a hatchet job going on or not.

SKB,

I'm glad you're back. Keep up the good work.

Thanks.

Stan

Nevermind the fact how much money he spent...the Chief had to buy a shower "trailer". Didnt the KPD get a new training facility with all of the bells and whistles? Does anyone else find it rather embarrassing that our fire fighters have to shower in a trailer vs. a facility with more than 1 toilet and no showers? Haslam and his administration of GOB's are pathetic.