Commission fires Bill Bridges

Less than a week after Escambia County (Ala.) Engineer Bill Bridges was placed on paid administrative leave, the county commission voted 3-2 Monday to fire him from the position he's held the past 25 years.

Commissioner Brandon Smith made the motion to terminate Bridges' job as county engineer and Commissioner Larry White issued the second. On the roll-call vote Smith, White and Chairman Raymond Wiggins voted to fire Bridges. Commissioners Steven Dickey and Karean Reynolds voted no.

After the motion and second were given, Dickey and Reynolds voiced their concerns and support of Bridges keeping his job.

"I believe anyone who has served our county for 25 years deserves a better fate than what has been brought forth by the commission regarding the firing of Mr. Bill Bridges," Dickey said. "Since 2018, 136 miles of roads have been paved and/or resurfaced under his leadership. He has saved the county millions of dollars, and has written and received state and federal grants worth millions more."

"He has no history of dereliction of duty, nor has there been an inkling of wrongdoing, legally, ethically, or morally," Dickey continued. "I believe an employer should give all of their employees every opportunity to be successful to better serve their constituency and to provide higher quality service to said constituency."

Dickey added that dismissing Bridges after his lengthy employment and service to the county was not only an injustice to Bridges, but an injustice to the county.

"I believe it will hinder us in our search for a new county engineer, inasmuch that highly qualified and experienced engineers may be very tentative to accept employment with our county due the manner in which Mr. Bridges is being dismissed and 25 years of service," Dickey said. "If any of us were in his shoes, I don't believe we would feel we were being treated fairly."

Dickey said if an employee has weaknesses the employer should do his best to help that person improve in those particular areas.

"We are all imperfect people with many flaws and shortcomings," Dickey said. "The only perfect man to live on this earth was Jesus Christ and even he had his detractors. Instead of moving on with the process, I suggest that the commission address any area of improvement for Mr. Bridges with reasonable goals and objectives to be met within a proper time frame."

Dickey noted that a few months ago the commission voted unanimously to give Bridges a raise.

"And less than three months time, he is being asked to resign or be fired," Dickey said. "That seems awfully strange to me, as usually a pay increase has something to do with job performance." Dickey also said he felt any successful business, corporation or governmental entity would not allow some type of due process before any type of termination.

"I fully understand that the commission has the authority to move along with this firing, but just because it can be done legally doesn't make it right," Dickey added. "I for one believe Mr. Bridges deserves a better fate."

Commissioner Reynolds echoed Dickey's sentiments noting that as the District 5 commissioner it was a pleasure to work with Bridges and there were "zero complaints" from people in his district.

"Everybody who came in contact with Mr. Bridges had no complaints," Reynolds said. "He's done an outstanding job."

Reynolds made mention of a petition that was circulated in an attempt to put Boogie Boutwell back on the payroll after the commission eliminated the special projects crew that cost Boutwell his part-time job.

Reynolds said there was no evidence that Bridges had anything to do with the petition and noted petitions have always been a part of the political process. He added that the engineer's position is a performance based job and nothing has come before the commission questioning Bridges' performance.

On Monday's commission agenda under new business it stated "consider employment of county engineer" and prior to reaching that line item was "public comments from citizens".

Chairman Wiggins informed the crowd of about 20 people that under the commission rules only two people could talk about a specific topic and they would be limited to 3 minutes. Four people ended up talking.

Charlie Walker said he had 40 years of experience working as a state auditor and was there on Bridges behalf.

He said he had been working with Bridges for the past 18 months on a right-of-way issue. Walker said he knew what he was asking Bridges to do was possibly illegal but Bridges stood his ground and told him work could not be done off of the right-of-way.

"He's got integrity," Walker said. "He's the best engineer I've worked with. You won't find a better man with better integrity than Bill Bridges."

Walker added that if there were problems to be worked out, they needed to be worked out.

Prentis Parrish of Foshee noted someone came to his house several nights ago asking him to sign a petition. The petition involved putting Boutwell back working with the road department.

"Then I read the headline in the Tri-City Ledger about the engineer being suspended," Parrish said.

"My concern is Bill Bridges' shoes will be hard to fill," Parrish added.

Larry Waldrop said he'd known Bridges for 25 years and has sat on the other side of the table with Bridges on many occasions.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Bill's character, his education and his experience," Waldrop said. "Bill is an asset to this county and I hope you don't make a mistake and let that asset get away."

After the vote was taken to fire Bridges, Betsy Miller said "I am furious".

"I would like to know exactly what he's being terminated for?" Miller asked. "And I want some examples.

Chairman Wiggins told Miller that it was a personnel issue and no other comments could be made.

Assistant County Engineer Brad Solomon presented the commission with its annual Rebuild Alabama report.

After giving the report, Solomon said "I fully disagree with this motion to terminate Bill Bridges."

Bridges said he was "blindsided" by the commission's decision and has not received any information on why he was fired.

"The first time I knew was when they decided to place me on paid leave following the administrative workshop," Bridges said. "Then Monday I was fired."

"I've spent the past 26-plus years working to improve the roads and bridges across this county with the money available," Bridges said. "I've done that work ethically and above the law."

"I'd like to thank commissioners Steven Dickey and Karean Reynolds for standing up for me," Bridges added. "I'd also like to thank the many people across the county who stood up for me, including those who voiced their opinions at Monday's meeting."