JEFFERSON CITY—State ethics officials fined the assistant chief of the Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District after finding that he awarded his own welding company contracts for fire district work.
Assistant Fire Chief Arron Lee, in a consent order with the Missouri Ethics Commission signed on Thursday, admitted there was probable cause to believe he violated state conflict-of-interest laws and local bidding procedures.
Between 2009 and 2017, the commission said that Lee served as a volunteer firefighter for the district. During that time, his welding company, Advanced Welding and Service, provided and was paid for work by the district.
In January 2018, he became assistant chief, which was a paid position. As assistant chief he oversaw day-to-day operations and made purchasing decisions, the consent order said.
Between Jan. 18 and June 21, 2018, the commission said, the fire protection district paid $11,565 to Advanced Welding for no-bid projects. The consent order said the district did not notify the public or allow bidding on the work.
Lee agreed to a fine of $6,030, but will only have to pay $1,206 if he pays ethics officials within 45 days.
Neither Lee nor Winfield-Foley fire officials could immediately be reached for comment on Friday.
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