MOODY, Texas — For years, the Moody Volunteer Fire Department has operated without turning in documents to the city. After public outcry, that's about to change.
Chief Mike Aldon said outside of run sheets for every call, the department isn't currently required to turn in training or financial logs. The city said it will require them to keep track of those things soon.
Aldon has been in his role for 36 years, and they've used the "good ol' boy system" during that time. The city said the new record-keeping will keep the department accountable to the public.
Mayor Tina Eaton said the urgency for change picked up during the annexation process after she said people spoke strongly against the fire department. The city council looked into those claims.
Eaton said it's hard to tell whether the claims hold true, but the council and department agree records of everything the department does is the easiest way to hold the department accountable.
"As an accountability for that, these are the things that we need in return," she said. "Stuff like how many calls do you go out on."
Aldon said his department will cooperate.
"I told them, you now, if that's something that you want to start knowing monthly, or something, that's not a problem," he said. "And I think that's a lot of what they're kind of wanting to know."
These changes will be outlined in a new operations contract between the city and fire department, which will go into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year.