CHESAPEAKE -
Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy is asking leaders at the Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department to get Chief P.J. Johnson to resign and replace him with someone who "is willing to be transparent."
Hardy and the fire chief have been at odds over records requested by the county related to a weekly bingo and raffle game. In 2009 and 2010, the games brought in $4.2 million, according to Hardy and tax records.
Hardy said the chief refuses to discuss the matter further with the county. An attorney representing the department sent the county a letter asking that officials sign a non-disclosure agreement about portions of the requested information. Fire officials are worried about salary information of certain employees being released.
"It's obvious that the chief of the fire department has thumbed his nose at the county commission," said Commission Hardy. "The chief and others involved have demonstrated a complete disdain for the public."
The state auditors office has received a number of documents from the department, but has not reviewed them yet.
Shortly after the audit into the department began, Kanawha County Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into the department.
Plants could not comment further on the status of the investigation.
Chief Johnson refused to answer questions posed by 13News Thursday. He blamed the media for pushing Hardy to investigate further.
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