DRAFT MINUTES OF REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING and DRAFT MINUTES OF 2026 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING Northwestern Special Service District Held January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
DRAFT MINUTES OF REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING and DRAFT MINUTES OF 2026 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING Northwestern Special Service District Held January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Notice Type(s)
Meeting
Event Start Date & Time
January 15, 2026 06:30 PM
Event End Date & Time
November 5, 2026 08:16 PM
Description/Agenda
DRAFT MINUTES OF REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING and DRAFT MINUTES OF 2026 PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING Northwestern Special Service District Held January 15, 2026 at 6:30 pm at the Central Fire Station - 155 E. Center St, Central , UT 84722
Board Members Present:
Mike Johnson - Veyo
Mark Cain - Central
Slade Hughes - Veyo
John Leavitt - Veyo
Rosemary D'Amato - Central via Audio Link
Clerk Paula Guthrie - via Audio Link
5 Members of the public were in attendance.
Fire Chief's Present: District Chief Guthrie
Central Chief Flores
Veyo Chief Larsen
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation. The swearing in of newly appointed Director John Leavitt, and reappointed Directors Slade Hughes and Mark Cain, was conducted by Board Chairman Mike Johnson.
A discussion of 2026 Board Positions followed for Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Clerk, and Public Information Officer (PIO). Mike Johnson was reappointed as Board Chair, Mark Cain remained as Vice Chair, Rosemary D'Amato accepted the position of Treasurer, Slade Hughes continued as PIO, and John Leavitt is Director at Large. Paula Guthrie kindly agreed to continue her duties as District Clerk, with emphasis on accounts receivable.
Additional Duties were then given to board members as follows:
Mike Johnson - Director of Information Services;
Slade Hughes - Director of Website Design & Maintenance;
Rosemary D'Amato - Director of Social Media Design & Maintenance;
Mark Cain - District Purchasing Officer, Communications Officer, and Financial Aide
John Leavett - To be determined
District Chief Guthrie - Budget Officer
The Minutes of the December 16, 2025 Board Meeting were approved, followed by a discussion of the 2025 End-Of-Year Accounting.
The board then discussed the appointment of a permanent District Finance Committee. Resolution 2026-0115-02 passed 5-0, creating the committee and appointing initial members.
At 6:56 pm, Director Johnson closed the Regular Meeting and opened a Public Hearing on proposed 2026 Budget. After the budget presentation by staff, a brief public discussion of the proposed budget ensued. The Public Hearing concluded at 7:09 pm and the Regular Board Meeting was reopened.
After a brief discussion, the Board then passed Resolution 2026-0115-01, approving the 2026 Operational Budget - it was Passed on a 5-0 vote.
The Board discussed 2026 Standby Fee Billing issues and set a soft target of mailing invoices by February 15, 2026 with the 2025 Year in Review newsletter included.
A Draft Statement of Purpose was presented by Director Cain regarding the creation of a Northwest Fire & Rescue Auxiliary. Further discussion was tabled at this time.
An RFP for 2026 Routine & Emergency Repairs for fire department bay doors was approved 5-0. Director Cain will email the invitations to local vendors.
A Certificate of Appreciation was approved 5-0, for the St. George Dixie Elks Lodge 1743 for a directed financial donation given to the Central Fire Department for a CPR device. A presentation plaque was developed by Director Cain. It will be presented to Elks members at a future meeting of theirs.
The District office server is online with training to be provided as necessary by IT Director Johnson.
Station Chief's Reports:
Central Fire Chief Flores reported four medical, four accident, and one fire call;
Veyo Chief Larsen reported that Veyo had several routine calls for service;
District Chief Guthrie provided a District report and an overview of calls for Gunlock & Brookside Fire Departments.
Directors Comments:
Director D'Amato - Central (Via Phone) has started a Northwest Fire & Rescue Facebook page. The District webmaster will provide a link to it on the District's Home Page @ www.nwssd.utah.gov This is the same URL as the new NWSSD Annual Billing Payment Link.
Final Public Comments: None.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 pm.
2026 REGULAR 2nd Tuesday BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE - Meetings start at 6:30 pm
January 15 - Central Fire Department
February 10 - Brookside Fire Department
March 10 - Veyo Fire Department
April 14 - Gunlock Fire Department
May 12 - Central Fire Department
June 09 - Brookside Fire Department
July 14 - Veyo Fire Department
August 11 - Gunlock Fire Department
September 08 - Central Fire Dept
October 13 - Brookside Fire Dept
November 10 - Veyo Fire Department
December 08 - Central Fire Department
Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)
The NWSSD will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled members of the public to access meetings. Please call Chairman Johnson (435) 619-4495 or Chief Guthrie (435) 680-0401 if you have any special needs.
Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation
NA
Other Information
District Website URL Address: www.nwssd.utah.gov
2026 Standby Fee invoices may now be paid by credit card. Simply access our home page at www.nwssd.utah.gov and click on the payment link.
Fire Department Meeting Addresses:
Gunlock Fire Department is located at 423 N. Main St, Gunlock - The meetings are held in the Community Center on the West side of the Fire Department parking lot.
Veyo Fire Department meets in the first floor assembly room at 95 E. Center St, Veyo
Brookside Fire Department is located at 436 E. Wells Fargo Rd, Brookside
Central Fire Department is located at 155 E. Center St (AKA: Pine Valley Hwy), Central