Pecan Plantation VFD/EMS board election sparks controversy

Pecan Plantation’s Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services Auxiliary hosted a candidate forum Monday, Oct. 21, at the EEA hangar. The well-attended event allowed community members to meet new and current candidates on the ballot and hear the candidates’ views on pressing issues firsthand.

Nine candidates have submitted their resumes but concerns about fairness and transparency have arisen regarding the board’s candidate selection process. The process deviates from the norm regarding bylaw nomination practices and voting procedures that do not appear to protect voter identity. Additionally, one candidate, Billy Wimberly, was excluded from the ballot with no reason provided, raising further suspicions among some residents about the board’s integrity.

The upcoming election Nov. 7 has led to discussions about transparency, trustworthiness and candidate eligibility. Some candidates, including Janie Narducci, Gary Guffey, Phillip Mayeux, and Gary Marks, did not attend the Oct. 21 forum, leaving the community wanting to hear from all candidates. The newly appointed VFD Chief and the EMS Chief were also absent.

CANDIDATES PROVIDED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Voting instructions accompanying the resumes revealed the candidate with the most votes for the category would occupy the first position, and the candidate garnering the next highest number of votes would automatically secure the next position in that category.

Positions 1 and 2, financial management category: Jeanie Curry, Janie Narducci

Positions 3 and 4, business management category: Gary Guffey, Phillip Mayeux, Ken Vehstedt, (Billy Wimberly)

Position 5, emergency management category: Gary A. Marks, Laverne Franzen, Richard Beardsley

THE EXCLUSION OF BILLY WIMBERLY

A point of contention for many is the exclusion of Billy Wimberly from the official ballot. Wimberly, a 30-year volunteer PPVFD firefighter and current Granbury ISD board trustee, submitted his resume by the Sept. 17 deadline but was informed that his role on the GISD board presented a conflict of interest. Wimberly disagrees, stating, “This is patently false.” He noted also that his resignation from the volunteer fire department Oct. 1 should have eliminated potential conflict.

Despite running a write-in campaign for Position 3 or 4, Wimberly noticed on social media a posting indicating that any write-in votes for him will be invalid. However, Wimberly is encouraging supporters to write his name in any way. He suggests that residents wanting to vote for him should scratch out Phillip Mayeux’s name and write his name in. He hopes the board will accept it.

CANDIDATES’ PERSPECTIVES OFFERED AT THE FORUM

During the forum, candidates shared their plans to improve transparency, strengthen the department, and foster cooperation between the VFD and EMS services. Here are candidate responses to several forum questions:

WHAT DO YOU ENVISION THE DUTY OF A BOARD MEMBER OF THE PECAN FIRE AND EMS BOARD SHOULD BE?

Billy Wimberly: “The most important duty of a board member is to have a good background in community service.”

Richard Beardsley: “… but we need to make sure there’s never a question on any of what we’re doing, who we’re doing it for, and why we’re doing it.”

Ken Vehstedt: “If money was no object, we probably wouldn’t be having this meeting.”

Laverne Franzen:” I think the two most important things that we need to do for our community is the fire chief and the EMS chief are an integral part of the board, and they bring ideas and thoughts to the board, and the board rules on whether they think it’s a good idea or not.”

Jeanie Curry: “So I think that just getting a trust factor built, working well with team members on the board is good.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS THAT WOULD INCREASE THE REVENUE FOR THE PECAN FIRE AND EMS?

Richard Beardsley suggested exploring various revenue streams for Pecan Fire EMS, including the potential for billing insurance companies for damaged equipment. He emphasized the necessity of increasing monthly donations from the community, given the high costs of EMS and fire services. Additionally, he proposed that obtaining 501(c)(3) status could open up opportunities for grants to support the fire department and EMS, particularly for funding ambulances.

Ken Vehstedt acknowledged that he currently does not have specific ideas to increase revenue for PPVFD and EMS, stating that without reviewing financial documents, any suggestions would be mere guesses. He emphasized that revenue comes from two primary sources: the community and external funding. He reflected on the challenges of maintaining financial support, noting that while some community members have been extremely generous, many residents may not fully understand the true costs of fire and EMS services, which exceed the current $20 monthly contribution per household. He concluded that addressing these financial realities should be a priority.

Laverne Franzen shared a few ideas to boost revenue for Pecan VFD and EMS. He mentioned exploring “balanced billing” for EMS services, which has not been promoted before, and increasing efforts to secure grants for the fire department’s equipment needs. Franzen also acknowledged the rising costs due to inflation, which impacts medical and fire equipment, suggesting that residents might need to contribute more financially in the future. However, he emphasized trying other options first and expressed gratitude for the generous donations received from the community.

Jeanie Curry suggested several ideas to increase revenue for Pecan VFD and EMS. She emphasized the importance of reviewing the budget for potential cost-cutting measures, such as optimizing fuel, medicine and supplies expenses. While acknowledging the affiliate’s current fundraising efforts, Curry expressed hesitation about asking members to contribute more financially. Instead, she recommended focusing on efficiency to make better use of existing resources, potentially reducing costs without necessarily increasing revenue.

Billy Wimberly highlighted the significant financial impact of Pecan VFD and EMS’ status change from a 501(c)(3) to a 501(c)(4) in 2018, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of dollars in grant funding. He argued that returning to 501(c)(3) status would enhance revenue potential and provide better tax incentives for donors. Wimberly noted that the EMS budget is between $1.2 and $1.3 million, with the current income from EMS services being insufficient. He emphasized the need for a stable funding source, as the fire department, which is all-volunteer, also relies on limited income and county funding, which is becoming uncertain due to a lack of certifications. Wimberly stressed that regaining 501(c)(3) status is crucial for financial stability moving forward.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WHAT IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY IF ELECTED?

Ken Vehstedt: “To accomplish (something) would be to have a regular version of this meeting with two or three times as many people ...”

“My top priority ... would be to not ever hear again that there are sides inside of Pecan.”

Laverne Franzen: “We need to work together. We need to have the firemen work with the EMS and vice versa and not fight about everything that happened in here.”

“I hope to support the fire department getting together again, and the firemen that we’ve had out here in the past with resignment, I hope a lot of them will come back and work with the board that’s there now.”

Jeanie Curry: “What I’d like to accomplish is unity, peace, understanding, listening to each other, working harmoniously together ... get a plan of action, and stick with it.”

“My top priority if elected? Listening.”

Billy Wimberly: “I think the most important thing that we can do is take care of both fire and EMS independently.”

“That $579,000 (grant) is at genuine risk of being lost completely, and that would be my top priority is to … get a board that can give them a lease, and we can build that $579,000 addition for this growing community, which is very important for us.”

Richard Beardsley: “I would like to accomplish... trust and openness with the board. We need to put this back together and keep it as one board, one group.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION FOR SERVING ON THE PECAN PLANTATION FIRE AND EMS BOARD IS?

Laverne Franzen believes the single most important qualification for serving on the board is a strong focus on financial management to ensure the effective use of resources.

Jeanie Curry believes the single most important qualification for serving on the board is cooperation and dedication to working harmoniously with others to develop and implement a cohesive plan.

Billy Wimberly believes the single most important qualification for serving on the board is having a servant’s heart and a commitment to serving the community.

Richard Beardsley believes the single most important qualification for serving on the board is the ability to listen, understand differing opinions, and find common ground to create and implement a cohesive plan.

Ken Vehstedt believes the single most important qualification for serving on the board is the ability to listen actively to the community’s expertise and concerns.

CANDIDATES’ QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates and their qualifications for positions 1 and 2 — financial management positions:

Jeanie Curry: Professional and leadership roles:

• February 1994: Joined a pioneering house-flipping company in Dallas.
• Expanded house-flipping operations to Houston, negotiating a standalone business.
• Successfully flipped over 100 houses annually, implementing strict budget controls and accurate financial reporting.
• Current co-president of PPVFD-EMS Auxiliary in her second term, active member since 2014.
• Board member of Hood County Republican Conservatives, serving as director of working groups.

Janie Narducci: Professional and leadership roles:

• Owner of a bookkeeping and accounting software consulting business from 1988-1998 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
• Branch manager of a commercial office furniture dealership from 1998-2003 in Fort Worth.
• Owner and director of Advanced Medical Supply from 2003-2010 in Duncan, Oklahoma.
• Director of solutions for Physician Practice Management at Duncan Regional Hospital, overseeing the opening of nine medical clinics in two years.
• Grew annual sales of Advanced Medical Supply from $400,000 to $2 million.
• Partnered with a local hospital to successfully sell the business, managing a staff of 18.
• Created centralized billing, accounting and purchasing departments, building support staff to train 75 physicians on medical EMR systems.
• Served on the Duncan, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Board 2005-2010, turning annual losses into a stable nonprofit and covering embezzlement issues.
• Studied accounting at East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma.
• Completed master’s courses in business administration at California Coast University.
• Treasurer for PPVFD/EMS, 2024.
• Member of the Granbury Middle School Boise Olympics, 2023-2024.
• Member of the Granbury Quilt Guild, 2013.
• Board member of Harvest Bank, 2007-2010.
• Member of Duncan Chamber of Commerce, 2005-2010.
• Member of Kiwanis, 2004-2005.
• Member of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, 2001-2003.

Candidates and their qualifications for positions 3 and 4 — business management positions:

Gary Guffey: Professional and leadership roles

• Served as chairman of the PPOA finance committee in 2004.
• Elected to the PPOA board of directors for three years in 2005.
• Served as president of the PPOA board from 2007-2008.
• Re-elected to the PPOA board of directors in 2021, filling a vacancy for 18 months
• Served as president of the PPOA board 2022-2023

Phillip Mayeux: professional and leadership roles:

• Current president of the Pecan Plantation Fire EMS board of directors.
• Served as a board member at Broadmoor United Methodist Church, participating in the Early Childhood Learning Center and church finance committee.
• President of the Wedgwood Civic Association for two years, successfully leading initiatives to create the Wedgwood Civic Association District to reduce crime.
• Served three years as chairman of the board for the Wedgwood Civic Association before relocating to Texas.
• Actively involved in improving accounting practices for the Pecan Plantation VFD and EMS to meet PPOA and Hood County standards.
• Supporting the expansion of the firehouse with ARPA grant funds, collaborating with Fire Chief Mike Barrett.

Ken Vehstedt: Professional and leadership roles:

• Retired nuclear engineer with experience from 1974 to 1999.
• Owner’s engineer for Ingres Empower at Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant.
• Lead engineer for mechanical and nuclear design analysis.
• Co-founder and chairman of Shanghai Mechanical and Electrical, 1999-2006.
• Technical services manager for Fitzpatrick Nuclear Plant and Indian Point III Nuclear Power Plant, supervising 150 staff and managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Responsible engineer for fire safe shutdown analysis and NFPA plans at Indian Point III and Fitzpatrick facilities.
• Nuclear safety engineer at American Electric Power Plant from 1974-1983, focused on instrumentation and control set point development and post-DMI accident analysis.
• Education: Mechanical engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology
• Completed Covey Center for Principal Centered Leadership training

Candidates and their qualifications for position 5 — emergency management position:

Gary A. Marks: Professional and leadership roles:

• Graduated from Glen Rose High School in 1967.
• Earned a Bachelor of Science from Texas Wesleyan University in 1971.
• Obtained a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University.
• Served as chief executive officer and administrator at Glen Rose Medical Center for 39 years, 1974-2011.
• Led multiple building and service expansions at Glen Rose Medical Center totaling $20 to $25 million, including enhancements to emergency room, inpatient surgery, laboratory and radiology services.
• Established and managed multiple family practice groups in Glen Rose and Pecan Plantation.
• Received 2011 Grade A First Responder recognition from Care Plan in Dallas.
• Achieved trauma designation for Glen Rose Medical Center in the early 1990s.
• Coordinated annual health fairs in Pecan Plantation for over nine years in partnership with the Pecan VFD and EMS.
• Established the Pecan Plantation Family Practice Clinic and Business Center over 20 years ago.
• Provided medical director support for Pecan EMS.
• Served as president of the Glen Rose ISD School Board for five years and was a board member for 11 years.

Laverne Franzen: Professional and leadership roles:

• Owned one of the largest plumbing companies in Denver, Colorado, overseeing multi-million-dollar projects for large apartment complexes, single-family homes, and commercial construction.
• Recognized as an up-and-coming business owner in Colorado.
• Served on the South Adams County Water and Sanitation Board from 1974-1976, responsible for reviewing and improving multi-million-dollar contracts for infrastructure development.
• Elected to the City Council of Commerce City, 1970-1976, responsible for hiring the city manager and developing long-range plans and budgets.
• Participated in the City Charter Convention, helping to establish Commerce City as a home-ruled city with the charter approved by residents in 1970.
• Completed EMT-B certification for Pecan Plantation EMS in 2006.
• Recognized by the CareFlite Dallas-Fort Worth council in 2010 as an outstanding EMT.
• Recognized as Outstanding EMT-B by Pecan EMS in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and named Crew Member of the Year in 2015.
• Worked with Pecan Plantation EMS from 2006 to 2021.
• Held master plumbing certifications in multiple states, including Colorado, California, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico, Georgia and Nevada.
• Active volunteer with PPOA infrastructure committee, 2013-present, and PPOA architectural control committee, 2015-present, serving as chairperson since 2019.

Richard Beardsley: Professional and leadership roles:

• Served two terms on the PPOA safety and security board.
• Retired professional firefighter with 39 years of service.
• Retired paramedic with extensive field experience.
• Small business owner.

Billy Wimberly: Professional and leadership roles:

• 30 years as a member of the Pecan Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as assistant chief.
• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics from Texas A&M University.
• Master’s degree in human resource management from Houston Baptist University, with coursework in accounting.
• Trustee and board secretary for Granbury ISD.
• Over 50 years of experience with the Boy Scouts of America.
• Ranch manager.
• Retired Delta Airlines captain with 31 years of service.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND VOTING INFORMATION

On Oct. 1, all Pecan Plantation Volunteer firefighters resigned, along with the chief, Mike Barrett, and assistant fire chief Billy Wimberly. While some have since returned, many community members remain concerned about the department’s leadership and direction.

Pecan Plantation residents can vote and submit their signed paper ballots Nov. 7 at 9518 Monticello Drive. Ballots are due by Nov. 7 at 5 p.m.