The Iola Volunteer Fire Department is without an assistant fire chief.

This comes after the fire department board ousted convicted felon, Michael Kimich from his position after he was voted to stay on earlier this week.

Kimich was charged with cattle theft and is currently on probation.

His wife is one of the suspects charged with embezzling department funds.

An emergency services board meeting was held Thursday night in Iola.

Michael Kimich was not present.

The new fire chief took the time to address the dozens of Iola residents, eager to find out what was happening.

Talks of the scandal were not on the agenda, but the grimes county auditor did ask for the department's financial records.

The chief is still trying to find them.

The chief also said the current by laws need to be changed because "a kindergartner could follow the current by laws. "

A former Iola Volunteer Department Chief, Dennis Pollard, told us he was going to step in and help guide the current chief.

"They need guidance here. I don't know how they went so long, I will not mention names, but I don't see how it escaped people going that long with that amount of funds."

The Grimes County Auditor says there are still financial records from the department that she needs to review.

A replacement for Kimich is pending.