FIRE DISTRICTS IN LEGAL WAR OVER STATION

After more than a year of negotiations described as stressful by both sides, firefighters from the East County and Fruitland, Mo., fire districts are fighting each other in court about a fire station to be built by packaging manufacturer Nordenia.

East County's lawsuit against the neighboring fire district questions why Fruitland is entering an agreement with Nordenia to operate from a fire station in East County's district. It asks a judge to order a halt to Fruitland's plans.

Last year, Nordenia worked out a plan with the Cape Girardeau County Commission to acquire a $250,000 foam-spraying fire truck. Hazards from flammable materials used in package printing motivated Nordenia to get the truck. The purchase prompted discussion about an industrial fire station.

The company began talking with East County and Fruitland fire district representatives to find out what level of cooperation could be reached among the three in building and staffing an industrial fire station.

Fruitland joined the talks since it had expressed a longtime desire to construct a third fire station at the eastern edge of its district to provide residents in that area better protection.

East County agreed to commit $135,000 to build a station at Nordenia under certain circumstances, the lawsuit states.

But East County already operates a fire station three miles away from Nordenia near Oriole, Mo. The district paid $90,000 to build it about three years ago, fire chief Jim Hanks said.

Officials from Nordenia have expressed frustration with East County's position in the talks.

"We've thought that this was something that was a win-win situation for all," Paul Wiedlin, president of Nordenia, said Thursday. "All we've tried to be is a good corporate citizen."

The blame lies with Nordenia, Fruitland and the Cape Girardeau County Commission, said attorney William Patrick Cronan of Rocheport, Mo., who represents East County.

"I have found them to be evasive," said Cronan, describing his attempts to talk with other parties prior to the lawsuit.

In a petition filed in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court last week, East County alleges that an attorney hired by Nordenia said the company, Fruitland and the commission were going to construct the fire station although Missouri law limits a fire district's operations outside its boundaries.

The lawsuit also states that the Cape Girardeau County Commission failed to respond to an April request that all documents related to the proposed fire station be sent to Cronan.

County Commissioner Joe Gambill said the attorney will be provided with whatever documents he needs, but he believes the lawsuit is pointless.

"With what we're doing, I'm convinced we're standing on firm ground," Gambill said. "Somebody got their nose out of joint."

Missouri State Fire Marshal Bill Farr said statues limit a fire district's ability to operate in another district.

"You can't just walk into another tax supported fire protection district and set up shop," Farr said.

The only provision in Missouri statutes discussing contracts between fire districts and private companies states that a majority of residents in a district must vote in favor of the contract in an election. An election on the fire station has not been held in either fire district.