General Information

Government Type

Special Service District

Entity

Mammoth Creek Fire District

Public Body

Mammoth Creek Special Service Fire District

Notice Information

Add Notice to Calendar

Notice Title

Mammoth Creek Fire District Public Meeting Minutes-5-24-2026

Notice Type(s)

Notice, Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

May 24, 2026 09:07 AM

Event End Date & Time

May 24, 2026 10:35 AM

Event Deadline Date & Time

05/23/26 09:00 AM

Description/Agenda

Minutes-Mammoth Creek Special Service Fire District DBA-Mammoth Creek Volunteer Fire District (MCVFD) Sunday, May 24, 2026-9 AM at the Fire Station. Call to Order: 9:07 AM Acting Chairman Dale Askew called the meeting to order. Present: Dale Askew, Pam Borgos, Dave Johnson and Dick West with Paul Martino participating electronically from his remote location. Others Present: Fire Chief Mary-Jane Ensor Absent: Carl Radomski and Clayton Carr. Review Last Meetings Minutes: The acting Chairman asked the board members if they had any issues or concerns with the minutes from the last meeting. There being none Dick West moved for approval. Dave Johnson seconded the motion and the motion passed. Board Member Status: Acting Chairman Askew informed the Board that his records indicated that both board members Carl Radomski and Dave Johnson terms had expired last December 31, 2025. He further explained that Carl Radomski wants to be reappointed to another term. Dave Johnson told the Board that the County sent him an email last October reappointing him to another four year term beginning January 1, 2026 and that he would submit a copy of the letter for our records. Askew told the Board that he would inquire with the County Clerk's Office as to the status of both board members. This was an information item and did not require a vote from the Board. Election of Officers: All board members present and current Chairman Paul Martino via FaceTime audio indicated that they would all like to continue in their present roles. Dave Johnson moved to approve the Chairman, Treasurer and Clerk positions with a second from Dick West. Motion passed. Financial Reports: The Clerk was asked why the County Clerk had asked for our financial statements for the year ending 12/31/2025 be sent to to her office. Askew explained that board members and officers are appointed by the County Commission, based on names we submit through the county clerk, and then placed on a County Commission agenda for approval. The county therefore has a certain degree of control over the district.Because of this, the county's auditors asked why the Mammoth Creek Special Service Fire District financials were not included in Garfield County's financial statements. As a result, we are now treated as a 'component unit' of Garfield County for financial reporting purposes. Clerk/Finance Officer Dale Askew then presented the Interim Financial Report including Comparison With Current Year Budgeted Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2025 including the period ended May 24, 2026 and the formal Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2025. The Capital Projects list was then discussed at length regarding which of the projects had been completed and what remains going forward. The List was then revised to reflect the following: 1. Replacement pump on Type 4 Engine: * The budgeted amount for this project will be increased from $15,000 to $20,000 to reflect current realities. 2. Structural/Wildland engine replacement: * The district's structural engine (Engine 72) is not an ideal fit for our needs, and the chief would like to retire it and transfer it to another Garfield County station, potentially in exchange for county support. * Desired replacement: A four-wheel-drive, short-wheel-base wildland/structural engine, ideally on an F-450/F-550 or medium-duty chassis (e.g., Freightliner or International) with a 500-gallon poly tank and PTO pump, similar to BLM or other federal wildland rigs. * The chief and Chairman Paul Martino are monitoring used-rig markets in Henderson, Nevada and through national brokerages and auctions (including potential retired federal units). Many candidates have around 85,000 highway miles, which is still acceptable for our purposes. * To better align the capital plan with realistic prices, the board agreed to increase the target amount for a replacement engine from 130,000 dollars to 225,000 dollars. * Funding will come from a combination of the district's capital reserves and the volunteer firefighter fund (leaving at least 15,000 dollars in that fund for other needs). The $225,000 figure is a planning target, not a current cash balance. Askew then closed the pubic meeting and resumed a public session with the Board as a whole reconvened as the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed both the Basic Separation of Duties and Fraud Risk Assessment questionnaires. The Self-Evaluation Questionnaire was then discussed and it was decided to wave an actual reading since there have been no changes since the last Audit Committee reading. Dick West moved for approval of the Financial Reports as presented with a second from Dave Johnson. Motion passed. Board Member Training: Board Treasurer Pam Borgos demonstrated to the board how to access the Utah State Auditor's online training portal and offered to assist board members in completing the training. Chief Ensor Items and Concerns: The fire chief reported on county chiefs' meetings and the upcoming fire season: * Federal wildland fire management is undergoing proposed consolidation between Interior (BLM, Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs) and Agriculture (Forest Service). There is resistance and uncertainty about whether the merger will be fully implemented, especially with potential changes in federal leadership, but the intent is to achieve some economies and consistency. * Some offices and district ranger positions are expected to be eliminated or consolidated, which may affect local operations over time. * Utah is experiencing an extremely dry year-described as the driest ever recorded-with very high energy release components and burn indices, indicating a high potential for large, intense fires. * However, Mammoth Creek and surrounding areas have benefited from fuel-reduction and mitigation work (perimeter treatments and fire breaks in Mammoth Creek and Reeds Valley), so the chief is 'guardedly optimistic' about community protection. * BLM has already imposed stage-two fire restrictions at lower elevations (approximately 4,000-5,000 feet and below), which prohibit open flames and certain operations after early afternoon. * It is expected that higher-elevation areas, including ours, will enter fire restrictions as conditions worsen; the exact stage and timing will depend on agency and political decisions. The Board discussed: * Hazardous wood piles near the campground and burn pit that still need to be burned or removed to reduce risk and allow safe burning operations. * Heavy campground use, even in cold weather, and associated campfire risks. Finally, the chief plans to complete the wildland engine pump project and to arrange for sealing the asphalt in the station parking lot. A contractor is expected to provide an estimate after the holiday crowds depart; the work is necessary to preserve the pavement. Board 2026 Meeting Schedule: Sunday September 6, 2026 9AM MST Labor Day Weekend. Saturday November 7, 2026 The Board will also conduct a Public Hearing on the 2027 Tentative Budget Request. This November meeting occurring so late in the year is difficult for many of the Board Members to attend so it was discussed that we would set up a Zoom Chat session so that members could attend electronically. Dave Johnson volunteered to assist in setting this up next year. To address the problem of long gaps between meetings (which can delay time-sensitive purchases approved in the budget), the board agreed: * The Chairman may call special meetings as needed, including virtual meetings via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms, so that the full board can participate and take official action. * For budgeted capital projects, the chief may proceed without further board action as long as total spending stays within the approved budget amount (e.g., up to 20,000 dollars for the Type-4 pump). * If actual costs will exceed the budgeted amount, a special meeting will be held (preferably via conference or online platform) to approve any budget amendment. All meetings will be held at the Fire Station Adjourn: 10:35 AM

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Dale Askew at 435-682-2847.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

NA

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

418 Mammoth Creek Road
Mammmoth Creek, UT 84735
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Contact Name

Dale Askew

Contact Email

dale17@icloud.com

Contact Phone

4356822847

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

May 25, 2026 04:16 PM

Notice Last Edited On

May 25, 2026 04:16 PM

Deadline Date

May 23, 2026 09:00 AM

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