South County Fire commissioner says board violated public meetings act

EVERETT — A South County Fire commissioner walked out of an executive session Tuesday over concerns the commission was violating open meetings laws.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board went into executive session to consult with legal counsel over a controversial redeployment plan that took two paramedics away from Mill Creek’s fire station.

On Aug. 1, the fire authority announced the department-wide plan, which included moving the paramedics to Martha Lake Fire Station 21 in Lynnwood. South County Fire says the plan would increase the number of paramedics in Mill Creek’s surrounding area from five to seven.

But Mill Creek city officials raised concerns over a lack of transparency. They say South County Fire didn’t inform them of the change until it was already in effect.

At the public p