REDKEY — The town board president is personally suing the fire department.

Redkey Town Council president “Watermellon” Jim Phillips filed a small claims civil lawsuit in Jay Superior Court against Redkey Volunteer Fire Department and fire chief Randy Young on July 9. Firefighter Mark Leavell mentioned the case at Tuesday’s Redkey Town Council meeting.

Phillips said following the meeting he’s suing the fire department for allegedly parking vehicles on top of his watermelon patch on property near the railroad across from the fire department and subsequently killing the plants. In court documents, he also accused firefighters of taking down a “No Trespassing” sign on the land, which he says he owns, and nailing it upside down.

Local residents Jeannie Reed and Roger Clay both told Phillips at the meeting Tuesday there isn’t a record at Jay County Courthouse that shows his ownership of that property. Phillips read aloud several documents, arguing he does own the land and that he pays taxes on it.

This isn’t the first case Phillips has filed in court recently. He also filed a small claims civil lawsuit in Jay Superior Court against railroad company Norfolk Southern on July 15. Phillips accused the company Tuesday of trimming his trees and leaving behind debris near the trees as well as other tree trimmings on top of his watermelon patch.

In May, he filed a small claims civil lawsuit in Jay Superior Court against fellow council member Brenda Beaty, accusing her of removing a flag and veterans’ pictures he hung around the park cabin.

Local resident Alicha Miller referenced other town matters, specifically properties that need work.

“I think we’ve got a lot more to worry about … (than) a few plants along the railroad,” she said. “That is minor compared to what Redkey needs right now.”

“It’ll go down from there, though,” said another resident in the crowd.

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