The Canyon Creek Rural Fire District board will meet 1 p.m. Saturday at the fire house, 7560 Duffy Lane, to discuss rescinding its recent vote of no confidence in its fire chief or removing him from the position altogether.

Board members will discuss topics such as the fire chief's report, discussion on previously used vehicles and more. The public may attend in person or online via Zoom with public comment offered at three minutes per person.

To watch the meeting on Zoom visit the link: https://shorturl.at/XEsG7

This will be the fourth meeting scheduled in the last two weeks for the fire district after previous meetings left some members of community with growing feelings of distrust in some board members.

It was not known how many of the five board members will be in attendance. They need three members for a quorum.

The previously scheduled meeting on Sept. 16 was canceled due to noncompliance with Montana statute regarding public notice within 48 hours.

Canyon Creek Rural Fire District Chief Jonathan Cunningham poses for a photo on June 25 with the station's new 2024 Dodge Ram 2500HD Tradesman, which was donated by an anonymous community member.

Trustees were going to address its vote of no confidence in fire Chief Jonathan Cunningham. That item was moved to Saturday's agenda. 

Saturday's agenda listed "discussion and decision of rescinding of the board's 'no confidence of the Fire Chief,'" the discussion and decision of the possible removal of the fire chief and the placement of the assistant fire chief as interim chief for 30 days.

The turmoil that has bled into the Canyon Creek community started with the acceptance of a donated quick response unit vehicle in June. The nine-member volunteer department accepted the vehicle prior to board approval, which was a violation of its bylaws, according to Chair Rick Grady.

"(Cunningham) reports to the board and he doesn't want to take orders," Grady said.

The discrepancies since then have created a divide between the community and the trustees. Treasurer Wendy Smith-Adamson said in a recent email to Grady, "You have now demonstrated a willful disregard to adhere to the by-laws by ignoring the co-trustees that have decided not to kiss your ring and you are failing at the job as the chair."

She also called the board "dysfunctional," and she was not the only one that felt that way.

Some of the public have criticized board members Max and Ellen Eskildsen and Grady, but multiple people usually landed on one person at the center of the "tumultuous" events.

Richard Grady, Canyon Creek Rural Fire District board of trustees chair

According to some, Grady has been an issue for years even before his time on the board in Canyon Creek. Wally Jester, former Lewis and Clark County Volunteer fire chief, said Grady caused conflict with mutual aid and claimed to be incident commander.

"He likes the divide and conquer approach," Jester said. He added Grady will get good people into his district that want to work with him and participate, but he "runs them off."

"If that community gets him out, it is the best thing they can do," he said.

Dave Mason, former fire chief for the Baxendale Fire District, said he has known Grady for about 25 years and always had problems with him.

"I found he was unpredictable because you don't know where he's going to stand or how he's going to react," Mason said.

When asked what he thought could help the Canyon Creek Rural Fire District, he said Grady needed to go because that was the only solution. 

Grady said people talk about him and point their fingers at him because he "follows the law." 

Connie Horder, a former fire chief and current community member, agreed that Grady needed to stay off the board.

She said he has a want for authority with a great resume that he never uses to help the community.

The problems within the board are with "some of the members," but ultimately Horder said "it's always related to Rick."

After attendees found out the meeting Sept. 16 was canceled through an email sent to trustees and the fire chief, they decided to host a "community gathering" as some called it, with pizza and sheets to sign.

The sheets were not a petition, but a show of interest in a possible recall of three members of the board.

The Eskildsens and Grady were the people noted on the sheets as supporters of the fire chief signed their names. The gathering was held at the fire station, but Grady and Max Eskildsen said it was unlawful use of property and assembly based on their bylaws.

Fire department grounds at 7560 Duffy Lane are public property, according to Cunningham, and he added the use of that portion of the department is under his discretion as fire chief.

Eskildsen agreed with Grady and said it was unlawful to do that and "Jonathan let it happen." He said when people don't agree with the group of people that were at the gathering they "go on a little rampage."

"You have the right to assembly, but it's a safety issue on fire grounds," Eskildsen said.