CLAYTON • While noting progress by the Northeast fire district board, a St. Louis County judge on Friday decided against dissolving a 10-month-old order restricting use of the district's funds.
Circuit Judge John Ross said the order would remain in place so that the court could review an audit of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District to be completed in late September or early October by the state auditor.
The judge said his decision also was based on a recommendation by Northeast's court-appointed special master, Booker T. Shaw.
Ross will reconsider lifting the order in a hearing Oct. 8. But first, Shaw will hold a hearing Sept. 24 due to concerns over contracts and district checks signed by Northeast's fire chief without votes by the board first.
In recent board meetings, Northeast director Bridget Quinlisk-Dailey has questioned Chief Angelia Elgin about four contracts Elgin signed for thousands of dollars in services, and a $3,992 check signed by Elgin but left off a list of checks presented to the board for approval. The signing of one of the contracts may have violated a state law requiring fire districts to publish notices for bids for work or materials amounting to $10,000 or more.
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Elgin has apologized in board meetings for acting without board approval and has said she didn't intend to keep anything from the board. She could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mary Creamer, who is Quinlisk-Dailey's attorney, told the judge that Quinlisk-Dailey opposed lifting the order "until there is some demonstration that policies are going to be followed by the staff and by the board."
Northeast board attorney Anthony Gray acknowledged those concerns but said the other two directors — Derek Mays and Rhea Willis — believed the order should be dissolved and the board allowed to act on its own. Gray said the board had succeeded in meeting milestones, such as hiring an accounting firm and creating a budget the district has been able to follow.
Lawyers Kris Boevingloh and state Rep. Don Calloway Jr., D-Bel Nor, filed the suit Oct. 20 that led to the freeze of district funds. Both told Ross that they felt the court shouldn't be involved in Northeast's day-to-day operations, but that they thought the order should be maintained until after the audit's release and until lingering issues are addressed.
Shaw said the district and board had made 'significant progress" but added, "It's absolutely clear that one of the most significant considerations for the court would be whether there continue to be unauthorized or illegal expenditures."
