The town of Bouton has rebounded after a dispute involving the former fire chief.
Hard feelings between town leaders and the fire department led to the fire chief's firing.
There's a new fire chief, and the town is starting over.
"There was a lot of infighting about who had what and that kind of thing. I was tired of it. A lot of people were tired of it. I'm glad it's over," said Bob Davisson, a Bouton resident.
In February, the locks on the fire department were changed as a dispute boiled over. Chief Karl Harris was fired.
Mayor Bob Barrow said Harris never stayed on budget.
Residents said it got out of hand, and that it was a personal vendetta.
For a while, Bouton had to do without a fire department.
Ron Leber, of Perry, was then hired as the town's fire chief.
"He has worked very well with the City Council so far. He has got the fire department up and running again," said Betty Tingwald, Bouton's city clerk and postmaster.
"It seems like it's better for everybody. Everybody is settling down," Tingwald said. "We've got to move forward. We can't go back."
Davisson said that he definitely feels safe.
The volunteer fire department has about five firefighters including the chief right now, and it is looking for at least a couple of more volunteers.
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