DRAFT MINUTES OF REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
Northwestern Special Service District
March 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Veyo Fire Station - 95 E. Center St, Veyo , UT 84782
Board Members Present: Fire Chief's Present:
Mike Johnson - Veyo District Chief Guthrie
Mark Cain - Central Central Chief Flores
Slade Hughes - Veyo Veyo Chief Larsen
John Leavitt - Veyo
Rosemary D'Amato - Central
Paula Guthrie, Board Clerk - Excused Absence
10 Members of the public were in attendance.
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 PM, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation.
A moment of silence was held for Jake Barlow, a junior firefighter who passed away in a motorcycle accident. Jake had been a volunteer for two years and was actively working on his wildland certifications. His passing is a devastating loss to his family and his community.
The minutes from the January 26 meeting were discussed. A motion to approve the minutes was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
Mr. Alan Anderson from the Washington County Library System presented a proposal to install a remote book locker for patrons to pick up and return library materials. The system must be installed and collecting data by June, 2026 to meet grant requirements. The project received a $30,000 state library grant. Bids for the locker system range from $27,000 to $32,000. The grant only covers the lockers, not additional construction like a required awning. A motion to approve the installation of the locker was made, seconded, and passed unanimously. Veyo Chief Larsen will be the point of contact to work with the library on the installation.
A discussion to offer NWSSD to function as Central Park administrators resulted in the board deciding to take no action on this item. A message will be relayed to the Park Committee to work with the county to establish their own SSD.
2026 Standby Fee Billing Update - The first billing has been sent out and the first payment has received at the Veyo drop box. An issue was identified where the online payment system's parcel number field only accepted numerals. A temporary workaround was found by entering the account number in both fields. The issue is expected to be fixed soon. A significant error on the bill incorrectly stated the billing period as 'January 15th to April 30th,' causing confusion. A clarification will be posted on the NWSSD website and other social media.
Public Comment - Several members of the public requested clarification of HB 48, a new state requirement that is not yet fully understood. The new law appears to involve penalties up to $100 per year based on home size and fire risk, but primarily addresses occupied residential properties, with unclear classifications for undeveloped lots. The law is set to go into effect without details, inspectors, and qualifications in place.
YTD Accounting - Our current cash balances are as follows: PTIF Fund - $123,445, Zions Checking Account: $114,966, 2025 outstanding Accounts Receivable - approximately $20,000. Total Current Funds: Approximately $258,400, plus incoming 2026 standby fees. A check for $2,686 that were held as custodial funds was returned to Central Park Committee at their request. Detailed credit card charges for January and February were made available to the public.
CY2025 Financial Audit - Due to the district receiving a CIB grant, the organization's 2025 income of $457,601 exceeded the $350,000 threshold, triggering a formal audit. An RFP was sent out, and one firm provided a reasonable estimate of $1,800 to $3,000, compared to a high bid of $8,000 from another firm. The audit is due on or before June 30th, 2026. This is expected to be a one-time audit, as projected income for the current year is $246,800. A motion was made and passed 5-0 to accept the low bidder.
The addition of joint-payment lockbox at Gunlock Fire Department was discussed. The proposal is to install a secure, dual-function payment drop box on the Gunlock fire station door to provide a cash payment option for residents for District fire standby fees, as well as Gunlock water payments. A motion was passed 5-0, to approve the installation, estimated at $70, as a community service, if the Gunlock water board declines to pay for it.
An RFP for 2026 Routine & Emergency Repairs for all FD Bay Doors was sent to local vendors. Only one response was received by the response date that happens to be from our current, satisfactory vendor, A Plus Garage Doors. A motion was made and passed 0 5-to ask A Plus to prepare a firm service contract for 2026.
Update on Certificate of Appreciation to STG Dixie Elks Lodge - The STG Elks Lodge #1743 donated $23,855 to Central Fire Department in January, but a formal check presentation ceremony was subsequently postponed. A Certificate of Appreciation and NWSSD Board Resolution were created to thank the Elks Lodge. The fire district will coordinate with the lodge to present the certificate at a future meeting.
A Draft MOU between NWSSD & Veyo Water Culinary Association to formalize the practice of waiving service fees for each other was drafted by Director Hughes. A motion was made and passed 5-0 to accept the MOU, which will now go to the Culinary Association board for their approval.
At 7:34 PM, the regular meeting was suspended for a Closed Session regarding personnel matters. At 7:48 PM, the regular meeting was reopened.
Station Chief's Reports:
Chief Flores - Central Fire Dept. ¬- An Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser will be held to raise funds for the new Central Park. The event is scheduled for March 28th at 4 p.m. for kids 10 and under. It will include a bake sale, raffle, face painting, and food trucks to raise funds for the community. Engine 171 may be present for photos, depending on crew deployment status.
We had 3 medical calls, 2 fire-related calls, 3 accidents with injuries on SR-18, and 1 standby to assist the Sheriff's department.
Rescue 171 is now certified by the State as an official paramedic rescue vehicle. It is equipped with advanced life-saving equipment that meets state qualifications. A decision on which CPR machine to purchase (Lucas® or Autopulse®) has not yet been made. The Lucas model is easier for a single rescuer to deploy. The Autopulse® has a familiar interface. A suggestion was made to maintain consistent equipment for supplies and batteries.
Two new volunteers were certified as Wildland Firefighter - Type Two. This brings the total number of 'red card' holders in Central to six.
Chief Flores has completed extensive training to become an Engine Boss, including S-290, intermediate fire behavior, S-219 Firing Operations, and S-230 Single Resource Boss classes. Total training hours since November include approximately 79 hours in-classroom and 48 hours online. The goal is to complete the Engine Boss task book by June to better serve the community during wildfire incidents.
Chief Larsen -Veyo Fire Dept. - Activity has been usual, with mostly medical calls. The roof and garage door openers have been repaired.
District Chief's Report - Chief Guthrie; District report, Gunlock & Brookside FD's
Six individuals are in the basic EMT class: two from Gunlock and four from Veyo/Brookside. All are performing well, and at least three are committed to pursuing advanced certification. Participants have signed a one-year service contract to cover their tuition costs.
A petition was submitted to the County and to BEMS to have Gold Cross service Gunlock. The current contract with Santa Clara/Ivins ends in November 2026, after which the county can reassign service. In related news, Santa Clara/Ivins Fire Chief has denied a request for a quick response unit in Gunlock. A follow-up meeting is being scheduled with the county commission, Bureau of EMS, and Santa Clara to resolve the issue.
The District will apply for Quick Medical Response license for Brookside and Veyo, as Gold Cross Ambulance supports it. This will allow our new EMTs to respond to calls in those areas.
There is currently a leadership vacuum in the Brookside department. Most active members have moved, but are still on the department. Only one active member currently lives in Brookside. Remaining Brookside firefighters are currently training under Chief Larson, who will coordinate their response.
Blue Card Incident Command Training:
The SR-18 departments previously received a grant from the county for unified incident command training under the Blue Card Program. The goal is to standardize protocols and communication during multi-agency responses. The training involves departments from Winchester to Enterprise, including Pine, Gap, and Gunlock. The grant has $2,018.35 remaining. An additional expenditure of $3,160 is needed to purchase 8 software licenses at $395 each. The District will cover the temporary over-expenditure, and the other participating departments will reimburse their share.
New EMT graduates will receive first responder vests and jump bags. This equipment will enable them to perform basic life support and take full vitals on scene, within their certification limits. An inquiry will be made about allowing new EMTs to do ride-alongs with the Gold Cross ambulance to gain experience. Currently, ride-alongs are permitted if a specific individual is on the ambulance, and the team is trying to broaden this. Enterprise FD is also available to take students for responses in Central.
Directors / Staff Comments:
District Clerk Paula Guthrie - Excused Absence
PIO Slade Hughes - Veyo: Excused for another meeting
Director Leavitt - Veyo: Excused for another meeting
Treasurer Rosemary D'Amato - Central: No comment
Vice Chair Mark Cain - Central:
Director Cain is looking to acquire a first response vehicle for Veyo FD, similar to the one used in Central. A four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle, like an F-150, is preferred based on past experience. Efforts are being made to source an excess vehicle from the county or St. George before it goes to auction, though there has been no reply yet. Cain is also monitoring Richie Bros. Auctions for suitable vehicles. A request was sent to Richie Brothers to see if they would allow direct contact with sellers who might donate a vehicle to a public volunteer agency like ours. The target budget for the vehicle is $20,000 or less, keeping in mind the additional costs for equipment.
Chairman Mike Johnson - Veyo:
A discussion was held regarding upcoming grants, including the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). There was a question about the status of the license plate grant, which typically opens around May. The board expressed a need to find someone to actively search for and manage grant applications.
Final Public Comments:
A public comment highlighted the need for grants to replace outdated turnout gear (jackets and pants) and SCBA tanks. A concern was raised about the number of firefighters certified for interior structure firefighting. It was noted that while some personnel have been through the Dammeron Fire Academy, more are needed. The team is considering adopting some of Winchester's self-training methods, which may take longer, but are feasible.
The current primary focus has been on establishing medical response capabilities. District Chief Guthrie plans to shift focus back to firefighter training once the medical response is more established. New SCBAs for Central are a high priority for the year, and proper PPE is being ordered for newly certified personnel.
Billing Issues: A concern was raised by Ed Bowler about using county tax parcel ID numbers for billing. Multiple small or sliver parcels, which may not be buildable, can each receive a separate bill. The district isn't always notified in a timely manner when residents combine lots. The district receives an annual database update from the county, but discrepancies persist.
Parcel Fees and Exemptions: There is a discussion about unbuildable parcels, such as those in a river, being charged a standby fee of $120. The board clarified it does not have the legal authority to grant exemptions; this must be handled by the county assessor's office based on state-set rules for agricultural or government use. Combining parcels can be expensive and may create other issues, like loss of water rights.
Standby Fee Setting: The board sets the standby fee, requiring public input and a public hearing. The last change was in 2024. Public notices are posted on the state website and social media, but not mailed directly.
Communication Improvement: A suggestion was made for the county to provide a checklist to property owners who combine lots, guiding them to notify relevant districts (water, power, fire).
Property Assessment: The county assessor determines property values based on market value, which is separate from the flat standby fee.
Defensible Space and Property Information: Time and work for the defensible space and fuel reduction program were documented and submitted for grant purposes, and this tracking will be used for future grants.
Gordon Poppitt is creating a form to document property details (plot number, address, owner, layout), including distances from hydrants, driveway widths, and building materials. The county already has similar information through building permits and its GIS website.
Adjournment 8:45 PM
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