First, there was Watergate, then came Iran-Contragate.

Now the city of Pacific is embroiled in its own scandal — a small-town version that could be dubbed “Pots-and-Pansgate.”

It’s a literal tempest about a teapot. And with hot words flying back and forth, this steaming brew has hit the boiling point.

Pacific police are investigating the removal of $2,500 worth of pots and pans – including a pair of $500 electric soup kettles, an electric griddle, knives and other utensils – used to cook meals for seniors at the city’s community center.

Linda Morris, Pacific’s community service director, discovered the items missing during the early morning hours of Oct. 26.

Morris filed a police report. No charges have been filed, although the culprits, if culprits they are, were never in doubt.

Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth said members of the Pacific-Algona Community Center Nonprofit Board took the items without asking.

Since the items were donated to the center, the City considers them City property. Thus, said Hildreth, the board’s actions “constitute theft.”

Nonsense, board members say. They have done nothing wrong because the pots and pans belong to them. They raised the money to buy them, they say, and have the receipts to prove it.

The City created the board five years ago to raise money to improve resources for community programs, including those at the senior center.

Board president Betty Aman and Lynda Osborn, the board’s treasurer, refused to comment on the allegations, heeding the advice of their attorneys.

As the investigation continues, the episode has stoked hard feelings in the small community.

“My intent is not to throw anybody in jail,” Hildreth said. “A lot of citizens contributed to the original pots and pans, including myself.

“The board thinks that’s their money … but the seniors are upset because a lot of the money was raised for the program, not for the board.

“It’s kind of like the brat kid who doesn’t get his way, takes his marbles and goes home,” Hildreth said. “That’s the way it looks to me.”

Hildreth said the problem is the result of an ongoing rift, “a battle of personalities” between the board and City staff.

Board members say they no longer feel welcome at the community center.

Not at all, said Hildreth.

“Nobody from the City has ever told the board they are not welcomed here,” he said.

Both sides have tried to meet and settle their differences, but without success.

If anything, Hildreth says, the board “owes the seniors an apology.”

Meanwhile, the meals program continues to operate, thanks to the donations of private citizens. Some, but not all, of the cooking equipment has been replaced by generous supporters in the community, Morris said.

The cooking tools are needed to provide meals for the center’s senior nutrition program, which serves free lunches for two hours on Mondays to approximately 50-75 people. The center, with the help of Catholic Community Services, also serves meals to about 20-30 seniors throughout the week.

“We have moved forward as if it didn’t happen,” Morris said.