DVFR SSD BOARD MEETING AGENDA
19 February 2026, 7:00pm
1. Call to order/roll call/pledge Alan Burns, Chair
2. Approval of Agenda Alan Burns, Chair
3. Approval of 15 January 2025 Board Meeting Minutes Alan Burns, Chair
4. Approval of 16 February Board Meeting Minutes Alan Burns, Chair
5. Treasurer's Report Pat Johnson, Treasurer
6. Review of Board Trainings and Certifications 2026 Olivia Anderson, Clerk
7. Fire Chief's Report and Member of the Month Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
8. Short-term lease of Ladder Truck from East Zion FD Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
9. Board discussion and vote, #8 Alan Burns, Chair
10. Purchase/lease of new Type 6 Brush Truck Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
11. Financing options for #10 Pat Johnson, Treasurer
12. Board discussion and vote, #10 Alan Burns, Chair
13. Resolution for Treasurer to finalize Capital Lease for #10 Pat Johnson, Treasurer
14. Board discussion (discussion, no votes) Alan Burns, Chair
a. none
b. none
15. Public Comment Alan Burns, Chair
16. Adjournment Alan Burns, Chair
02-19 Board Meeting: Financial Position, Wildland Deployments, Ladder Truck Lease, ISO Class 1 Pursuit, and Type 6 Brush Truck Financing
Meeting Information
Date: 2026-02-19 19:05:43
Location: 1261 Dammeron Valley Road
Participants: Olivia Anderson, Pat Johnson, Kim Slight, Alan Burns, Chief Rieffer
Meeting Notes
- Title: Call to Order, Roll Call, and Pledge of Allegiance
o Meeting called to order at 7:06 pm on February 19, 2026.
o Roll call noted; Doug Markham delayed due to an accident on I-15 and will arrive late.
o Pledge of Allegiance conducted.
o Conclusion: Meeting formally opened; quorum present.
- Title: Agenda Approval
o Motion to approve the agenda as published.
o Motion made by Pat Johnson, Second Kim Slight. Motion passed.
- Title: Approval of January 15, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
o Motion to approve January 15, 2026 minutes.
o Motion made by Pat Johnson, Second Kim Slight. Motion passed.
- Title: Treasurer's Report (Statement of Activity and Financial Position)
o January Statement of Activity reviewed (income and expenditures for January only).
o Operations income: fees recognized in January 2026 due to accrual accounting; figure cited as 267,983.77.
o Net figure in lower right: 182,535.83; will vary month-to-month.
o Income will include deployments, training, etc., as year progresses; cumulative view builds each month.
o Statement of Financial Position reviewed (assets and liabilities).
o Total assets (current and fixed): 1,711,157.47.
o Liabilities total: 390,775.56 (includes credit cards, prepaid assessments for 2027, retirement payable ~121, capital leases).
o Reserve savings: 41,407.00 earmarked for annual lease payment from reserve (not operating).
o Total equity: 1,323,381.91; assets = liabilities + equity.
o Checking operations balance clarified as $210,289.92 (initial misstatement corrected).
o Cash expected to meet current/future needs for 2-3 months until deployment funds replenish.
o Conclusion: Financial position stable; sufficient operating cash pending deployment revenues.
- Title: Board Trainings and Certifications (2026)
o Members to send certificates to Olivia Anderson; she will identify missing items and email requests.
o Olivia will coordinate new trainings and ensure completion (including Mineral trainings).
o Conclusion: Centralized tracking and follow-up established under Olivia.
- Title: Fire Chief's Report and Wildland Deployments
o Operations: staffing at 4-5 per day; slower season; substantial training underway (wildland, structure, EMS).
o EMS Training: EMT Basic class ongoing; ~27 students; focus on quality instruction.
o Wildland (Spec Ops): State requested strike teams for Texas; department ready due to early completion of training.
o Deployments: Units 51 and 61 (Type 6) deploying; staffing 5 on 51, 4 on 61; total 9 personnel. Some personnel flying in from Tennessee to join.
o Strike teams coordinated with Unified Fire and others; standard deployment ~14 days, possible extension to 21 days or rest-in-place options.
o Revenue expectations: Each Type 6 averages ~$75,000 per basic deployment; two units ~ $150,000 billed on return with expedited paperwork.
o Net contribution after costs estimated ~$75,000 for a two-week deployment per unit.
o A new Type 6 unit (planned) would add another ~$75,000 per similar deployment; importance noted for long-term revenue (10-year deployment viability).
o Seasonal outlook: Early start in February; activity likely through October across regions (Midwest/Texas to West, then PNW).
o Engine bosses are crucial; staffing pipeline noted as strong; prior success in obtaining engine bosses.
o Conclusion: Two Type 6 units deploying to Texas; revenue-positive operations aligned with budget; strong preparedness and staffing.
- Title: Board ratification of temporary ladder truck lease
o Lease for temporary use of East Zion Fire Department's ladder truck was signed by the chair and treasurer, subject to board ratification.
o Lease term runs through May 15; renegotiation with East Zion needed thereafter.
o A quorum of three was confirmed; Doug was absent.
o Conclusion: The board voted to ratify the temporary ladder truck lease.
- Title: Ladder truck operational readiness, testing, and costs
o Ladder truck has a top-mounted waterway and has been tested (photos available).
o Annual testing is required; ongoing operating and maintenance costs expected to be nominal; precise annual cost figures to be provided later.
o May serve as a backup engine, addressing lack of a pumper if the main engine goes out.
o Mechanical inspection to ensure soundness; door latch fix expected Tuesday or Wednesday.
o Conclusion: Ladder truck use approved operationally for training and ISO rating improvement; maintenance in progress; potential future acquisition discussed.
- Title: Insurance and registration matters for the ladder truck
o Short-term insurance coverage to be coordinated; vehicle VIN needed.
o Registration discussed; exemptions noted, but recent registrations also cited; potential registration under 'Gamble's' name; title transfer if/when deal finalizes.
o Chair requested administrative follow-ups occur offline.
o Conclusion: Insurance setup and registration details to be clarified and completed.
- Title: ISO classification and potential shift from Class 2 to Class 1
o Community has strong water system and well-staffed fire department; ISO impacts insurance costs; Class 1 can lower premiums.
o Current metrics hit Class 2; department will aim for Class 1 at next rating; early rating may be requested if data supports it.
o Water system scores highly; ~40% of ISO based on water supply and hydrants.
o Conclusion: Department will consider seeking an early ISO rating and continue training and data improvements to pursue Class 1.
- Title: Acquisition of a new Type 6 brush truck (Item 10)
o Type 6 brush truck is key revenue-generating asset; first deployment expected to cover annual cost; approximately 8 deployments expected this year.
o Supports a 10-year plan and revenue programs; current unit '1361' is being nursed along; won't pass inspection in California but can in Texas; purchase is its eventual replacement.
o Longer-term plan includes pursuing a Type 3 engine via CID to extend seasonal capability in the northwest.
o Conclusion: Motion passed to approve acquisition of the Type 6 brush truck now, with financing details to be approved later via resolution.
- Title: Financing options for the Type 6 brush truck (Item 11)
o Two financing options:
Seller's in-house lease (Unified Fleet Services): principal imputed at $199,000 due to fees and front-loaded interest; annual payment $45,813 over 5 years; buyout declines to $0 with $1 transfer at year 5; computed interest rate ~4.775%.
Zions Bank governmental services lease: historically used; base price proposed at $185,000; pending credit approval and loan committee decision; potential funding as soon as February 27.
o Department currently has two active leases totaling $374,000; one prior lease paid off; perfect payment history noted.
o A $5,000 deposit is holding the truck; market price pressure noted (other departments interested; could sell for ~$250,000).
o Preference to have Doug present and follow proper public meeting notice for financing approval.
o Conclusion: Financing details to be approved in a subsequent noticed public evening board meeting via resolution after Zions' proposal is received.
- Title: Resolution timing for financing (Item 13)
o Proposed resolution related to financing discussed.
o Conclusion: Motion passed to table the resolution until financing details are available.
- Title: Past-due payments and invoicing process
o Letter drafted regarding payments not received for 2026.
o Affinity will send past-due invoices via email at essentially zero cost; follow-up will be a mailed notice with a $20 additional fee.
o Many small fees and partial payments reflected in QuickBooks; efforts underway to clean these up.
o Conclusion: Past-due invoicing process initiated; account cleanup ongoing.
- Title: Outreach to Gold Cross and Coordination with County
o Plan to contact Gold Cross to introduce the board, express appreciation, and explore collaboration on service improvements; outreach is non-binding.
o Reference to a prior letter intended for county commissioners; county prefers status quo and noted potential legal ramifications if changes are pursued.
o Suggestion to proceed with the county letter first or concurrently, ensuring transparency and compliance; desire to gather feedback on Gold Cross's future plans.
o Conclusion: Proceed with non-binding outreach to Gold Cross while maintaining communication with county commissioners via a letter.
- Title: Board Representation and Meeting Logistics
o Board agreed to write letters and have the board representative and chief engage with Gold Cross.
o Kim Slight volunteered to meet with Gold Cross and coordinate with Chief Rieffer, then report back to the board.
o Emphasis on board-level communication rather than informal staff-only efforts.
o Conclusion: Kim Slight will arrange a meeting with Gold Cross, with Chief Rieffer attending, and report back.
- Title: Public Comment-Park Maintenance and Equipment
o Mac Sorenson raised park maintenance needs, including watering schedules and sprinkler repairs; a lawnmower is available in the commenter's basement.
o Fire chief indicated crews could be trained to handle park maintenance as a district service; repairs needed to automate sprinklers (approx. two hours per station, twice a week).
o Water for the park is available; repairs would enable automatic irrigation.
o Conclusion: Fire department crews may take on park maintenance, subject to training and arranging sprinkler system repairs; board action on lawnmower and responsibilities is needed.
- Title: Public Comment-
- Mac Sorenson engaged us to speak with St. George Mayor for Marathon Funding
o Recommendation to meet with Mayor Jimmy Hughes of St. George before meeting Gold Cross to discuss ambulance-related ideas and potential partnerships. Suggestion to request $15,000 for the marathon and seek compensation related to highway closures impacting the Dameron Valley. Indication that the mayor is open to ideas; prior mayor was not.
Conclusion: Board to consider meeting with Mayor Hughes to explore partnership and funding opportunities.
- Title: Donation of Training Container and Future Facility Needs
o Announcement of a donated 20-foot container for training; currently full and needing unloading.
o Plan to have wildland firefighters unload the container on Tuesday and place it atop two existing containers for a training build.
o Need to obtain bids to put a roof on the container stack; anticipate future funding requirements.
o Conclusion: Proceed with unloading and placement; begin planning for roof bids and associated budget.
- Title: Member of the Month
o Recognition postponed due to missing information; will award two recognitions next month.
o Conclusion: Deferred to next meeting.
- Title: Adjournment and Historical ISO Rating Note
o Motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved.
o Note: In 2012, ISO rating was 6; SSD formed a year later; ISO remained 6.
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, Alan Burns, 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
Pat Johnson- Treasurer
Olivia Anderson- Clerk
Doug Markham- Member
Kim Slight- Member