Ozark Fire board member fined

After state Auditor Nicole Galloway's office this spring completed an investigation into the Ozark Fire Protection District’s competitive bidding process, the Missouri Ethics Commission this month levied a fine in its own action on the case.

The Oct. 5 MEC order requires OFPD board member Will Reynolds to pay $33,021 after the commission found legal violations related to his 49% ownership in NRoute Enterprises LLC and its goods and services provided to the district. If Reynolds pays $6,604 within 45 days of the order, the remainder would be stayed if no further conflict-of-interest violations are discovered in the next two years, according to a news release issued yesterday by Galloway's office.

"The law is clear that public officials cannot use their position for personal enrichment," Galloway said in the release. "When officials are serving themselves and not the people, we bring accountability."

NRoute Enterprises, which installs and supplies lights, sirens, and radio and emergency equipment in emergency vehicles, was accused in the auditor's investigation of entering a deal with the district without undergoing a competitive bidding process, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. A whistleblower claim spurred the probe.

OFPD rules require the district to conduct a competitive and open bidding process for purchases over $10,000 or when a board member owns 10% or more of a potential contracting company, according to past reporting.