Are Madisonville employees doing their work so carelessly that the city’s safety officer resigned in frustration? And can he resign if the position is just a sideline to his job as fire chief?

Madisonville Fire Chief John Tallent, who was appointed as safety officer a while back (no one seemed to know when he took the position), turned in a letter of resignation on July 3. The letter was read to the board during Monday’s July meeting.

In the letter, Tallent said, “The safety officer has no authority to enforce OSHA rules” and “several departments are lax in following the safety rules.”

Tallent was not present for the meeting, but Alan Johnson, whose firm provides the city’s insurance, said Tallent decided to resign when he came across an unsafe activity involving city employees.

“He said he saw employees working in a ditch, over their heads, without any shoring support in place,” Johnson said. “The employees denied it, I didn’t see it myself, but getting buried in a ditch is not a pleasant thing. I saw it happen as a kid and it was a terrible thing.

“Honestly,” Johnson added, “I can’t believe we have employees stupid enough to get in a ditch that is deep enough to be over their heads without shoring in place.”

Johnson said there were other safety violations that had been noted, including not putting up road signs to warn motorists of work crews and employees who don’t wear safety vests.

“I just ordered some more signs the other day,” City Foreman Donny Chambers said. “We put them up, then people steal them before we can get back to them.”

“We’re going to get somebody killed unless we put some teeth into the safety officer position,” Johnson said. “They won’t follow the rules if you don’t.”

But Alderman Glenn Moser questioned if Tallent had the right to resign. “Is it part of his duty as fire chief to do this?” Moser asked. “Can he resign one of his responsibilities? If we do this will it set a precedent? What if Jay Howard (Parks and Recreation employee) decides cleaning up trash is a part of his job he doesn’t like?”

Alderman Bill Spradlin said he would talk to Tallent and see if anything could be worked out. “Maybe if we give him the full backing of the board,” Spradlin said, “and stand behind the position, he might not resign.”

In other business:

The board heard from the Nashville area engineering firm Hart, Freeman and Roberts concerning the ongoing sewer plant project. The board listened but told the firm they already were well into the project and didn’t want to switch directions.

Firm member Alan Pedigo said he understood, but he wanted more to let the board know about the firm and keep it in mind when other projects might come along.

The board also accepted a bid of $5,000 from Hatley Heating and Air to install a new system at the Police and Fire department.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575.