14 October 2025: Meeting Agenda posted
16 October 2025: Audio Recording posted
27 October 2025: Meeting Minutes posted
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DVF SSD Agenda October 16, 2025
1. Call to order/roll call/pledge Alan Burns, Chair
2. Approval of Agenda Alan Burns, Chair
3. Approval of September 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes Alan Burns, Chair
4. Treasurer's Report Curt Shelley, Treasurer
5. Fire Chief's Report Fire Chief Chris Rieffer
6. Budget update Fire Chief/Treasurer
7. Discussion and vote, 2026 annual fee and invoicing Curt Shelley, Treasurer
8. Update, Public Information and Outreach Committee Pat Johnson, Clerk
9. Insurability Committee progress report Curt Shelley, Treasurer
10. Discussion and vote, Public Comment Resolution R-2025-0918 Pat Johnson, Clerk
11. Public Comment Alan Burns, Chair
12. Adjournment
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DVF SSD Minutes 16 October 2025
1. Call to order by Alan Burns, Chair: 7:01pm /roll call: Curt Shelley, Pat Johnson, Alan Burns, Jack Kuntz /pledge led by Jack Kuntz. Note: one Board position is open, to be filled by appointment by County Commissioners. Mark Smasal submitted his resignation effective 30 September 2025. He was commended for his service.
Note: The 2nd slide in the deck displayed the standards for Public Comment
a. Maximum 2 minutes per comment or question to the Board
b. Comments or questions should be specific to an Agenda item
c. Questions or comments for Fire Chief Chris Rieffer can be addressed with him one-on-one following the meeting, or at the fire station during regular business hours.
2. Approval of Agenda: Motion: Pat Johnson. Second: Curt Shelley, Approved.
3. Approval of September 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes: Motion: Curt Shelley: Second, Jack Kuntz. Approved.
4. Treasurer's Report: Curt Shelley, Treasurer. 30 September 2025, accrual basis.
General fund cash: $115,161
Capital Project accounts cash: $89,371 Total: $204,532
Month Gross Revenue (Gen Fund): $106,823
Month Expenses (Gen Fund) : $262,696
YTD 2025 Operating Income (All sources): $2,075,007
YTD 2025 Operating Expenses: $1,661,739
YTD MOU and Grant Income only: $1,725,341
A/R, Total less 2025 parcel fee: $284,600
A/R, 2025 Parcel fees outstanding: $25,898
It was noted by Pat Johnson that these numbers were taken directly from the 3rd quarter 2025 financial statements, which were available to the Board on 14 October 2025.
5. Fire Chief's Report: Fire Chief Chris Rieffer
a. Outstanding year for deployments, but slowing down at end of fire season
b. The numbers exceeding projections keeps the fee down
c. 4 staff per shift per day is the standard, dept is carrying the load
d. REMS team and 1 Brush Truck are on the Board for call next week
e. Fire Academy is ongoing, Advanced EMT class is ongoing
f. Fire Marshall Hennessey has made 67 property assessments so far, 142 hours
g. Slash pile at Community Gardens is growing, the DNR will provide a chipper next week, saving the department $3200.
h. AFG grants totaling $64,000 have been received, used to buy turnouts (personal equipment) for firefighters.
i. Additionally a CWDG grant in the amount of $280,000 has been received to purchase a chipper, brush truck chassis, cab, and additional equipment
j. 274 calls year to date. Local response times remain under 7 minutes
k. When we deploy crews to adjoining districts, or deployments, a 4-person crew is always left at the Fire Station.
l. Tyler Tait, Engineer is named as Member of the Month, for the 2nd time.
m. REMS has had 5 deployments so far this year, peer ratings are 'high'
n. EMS transport application ongoing
o. Hunter Wolfe has been appointed Deputy Chief, Administration. Assistant Chief/EMS Colleen Homer will report to DC Wolfe as Administrative Assistant, in addition to her EMS duties. This will assist in shifting the workload currently being carried by Curt Shelley, who is finishing his 5-year term of service at the end of 2025.
6. Budget update: Fire Chief/Treasurer.
a. Work on the 2026 Budget is ongoing
b. The 2026 budget should be ready for presentation by Chief Rieffer to the Board by early November
c. An amended 2025 Budget to reflect actual operations will also be available.
d. Expect a Board Working Meeting to be called in November prior to the scheduled monthly meeting to review and approve both Budgets. The meeting will be noticed.
7. Discussion and vote, 2026 annual fee and invoicing: Curt Shelley, Treasurer:
a. It is proposed that the 2026 annual fee per parcel remain the same at $550.
b. Since there is no fee increase, the billing can proceed before the 2026 Budget is heard and adopted.
c. An information cover letter will be included with the billing.
d. It is anticipated that 2026 billings will be sent in early November, allowing residents more time to pay before the due date of 1 January 2026.
e. Motion to Approve: Pat Johnson. Second: Jack Kuntz. Approved
8. Update, Public Information and Outreach Committee: Pat Johnson, Clerk
a. Affinity HR will be able to include an POIC update on a single page tri-fold with the annual billing mailing
b. Chief Rieffer: the challenge is to get current, accurate information to the residents, as the status of much information changes quickly, and printed information may be out of date by the time it is collated, published, and distributed.
9. Insurability Committee progress report: Curt Shelley, Treasurer
a. Work of the Committee is ongoing, a major objective is to stay ahead of HB0048, which is challenging as no definitive standards have been received by either the County or State.
b. Chief Rieffer: 'an insurance disaster is coming', referencing subsequent actions that will be taken by insurance companies following recent Caifornia wildfires.
c. The Committee, DVFR, and the Fire Marshall are working to act a buffer for the community, and an advocate for residents.
d. Chief Rieffer: In the near future decisions will have to be made regarding wildfire preparations where private property adjoins Public Lands, or other unoccupied private property.
10. Discussion and vote, Public Comment Resolution R-2025-0918: Pat Johnson, Clerk:
a. Resolution R-2025-0918 is proposed to standardize policies, guidelines, and statutes already in place regarding Public Comments, and the conduct of the public at Board Meetings.
b. The meetings of the Board are Public meetings, to which the Public is invited to observe, but may not interrupt, make motions, offer amendments, nor request votes.
c. The Chair may designate a Public Comment segment and time limit at each Public Meeting.
d. Recently, a slide displaying Public Comment guidelines has been shown at the start of each meeting. This is expected to continue.
e. It was noted that meetings held since have been orderly. Most meetings have been, with exceptions.
f. A procedure for dealing with disruptions was specified: a request to desist, an invitation to voluntarily remove, removal by law enforcement.
g. It was noted that the Fire Chief and Board members are conveniently available to meet with residents to address any legitimate issues or problems.
h. Since the Resolution enacts nothing new, merely states existing policies and statutes, and with the exemplary conduct of the residents, a decision to Table the Resolution has been made, and no further action will be taken at this time.
i. A tabled motion may be taken from the table (per parliamentary rules) and be voted upon at a later date.
j. A motion to Table the Resolution was made by Curt Shelley, Second by Jack Kuntz. Resolution R-2025-0918 is tabled.
11. Public Comment: Alan Burns, Chair
a. Rick Johnson: Insert emergency preparedness survey with annual billing?
b. Olivia Anderson: Has any work been done by the County or State following 2018 flooding? Chief Rieffer asked any questions on this topic or any others to be submitted in writing to him and he will forward to the County or State.
c. Joyce Carlin: has been calling the County for years regarding flood control measures, which no results
d. Don Lusbee: attach photos of flooding, damage, to emails
e. Mack Sorensen: confirmed noting of substance has been done to mitigate flooding since 2018. And: if your insurance company wants an inspection of your home/property: refer them to Fire Marshall Hennessey.
f. Chief Rieffer: since HB0048, we will not accept 'ratings' from insurance companies
g. Denise Truax: HB0048 impacts, billing, not known at this time.
12. Adjournment: Motion by Jack Kuntz, Second by Pat Johnson. Adjourned 7:57pm.
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during this hearing should notify the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District Chairman of the Board, Ryan Andersen, at least three days prior to the hearing.
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
Policy: This shall be known as the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District Electronic Board Meeting Policy.
In compliance with Utah State Code 52-4-207
Title 52
Chapter 4
Section 207
Other Information
DVFD is located on the east side of Highway 18, about half way between Mile Markers 17 & 18, the second building after the mail box pods on the North side of the street.
Alan Burns- Board Chair
Curt Shelley- Vice Chair & Treasurer
Pat Johnson- Clerk
Alan Burns- Member