DVF SSD BOARD MEETING AGENDA
18 June 2026, 7:00pm
1. Call to order/roll call/pledge Alan Burns, Chair
2. Approval of Agenda Alan Burns, Chair
3. Approval of 21 May 2026 Board Meeting Minutes Alan Burns, Chair
4. Treasurer's Report Pat Johnson, Treasurer
5. Review/update of Payroll LOC Pat Johnson, Treasurer
6. Update/Schedule/Assignments: Policies and Procedures Manual Doug Markham
7. Member(s) of the Month: May 2026 Travis Flygare, Deputy Chief
8. Fire Chief's Report Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
9. Chief's Compliance Report Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
10. Seasonal Fire Outlook /Update Chris Rieffer, Fire Chief
11. KUER news article review Alan Burns
12. Other items for discussion
12.1 Vision 2030 Olivia Anderson
12.2 Ladder truck Olivia Anderson
12.3 Town Hall Meeting Olivia Anderson
12.4 Zoning Olivia Anderson
12.5 Items for next month TBD
13. Public Comment Alan Burns, Chair
14. Adjournment Alan Burns, Chair
DRAFT-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date & Time: 2026-06-19 7:00 pm
Location: Dammeron Valley Fire Department
Meeting Procedural Items
1. Meeting called to order by Alan Burns. Roll call was conducted, with members including Olivia Anderson, Kim Slight, Pat Johnson, Alan Burns, and Doug Markham confirmed present. Mac Sorenson leads Pledge of Allegiance
2. Motion to approve the agenda by Kim Slight, second but Doug Markham. The agenda was approved.
3. Approval of the May 21 meeting minutes was deferred to the July meeting due to late distribution. Motion made by Pat Johnson, second by Kim Slight. Motion passes.
4. Treasurer's Financial Report
- Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position)
o Total assets: $1,599,630
o Total liabilities: $482,713.89
o Total equity: $1,116,916
o Net change from the previous month: -$79,854, attributed to the timing of payables versus receipts during normal seasonal operations.
- Receivables and Cash Flow
o Outstanding receivables from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR): $372,080, of which $128,000 is past due.
o DNR was described as a reliable but slow-paying customer, often exceeding 30-day payment terms.
o The gap is currently being managed through an Affinity HR line of credit and credit card usage.
- Year-to-Date Income Statement (January 1 - May 31)
o Net income year-to-date: -$20,340.53
o Net change from the previous period: -$79,264, closely mirroring the balance sheet figure.
o The treasurer noted that additional significant revenue is expected, as referenced in the chief's report.
5. Line of Credit Update
- Balance drawn as of end of May: $75,884.
- Balance as of the 15th (updated interim statement): $141,896.
- Total line of credit limit: $300,000.
- Two previous thresholds have already been passed. The next threshold is $250,000.
- The board was advised to expect the $250,000 threshold to be crossed within the next 30 to 60 days, at which point board approval from at least the treasurer and two other board members will be required per the terms of the agreement.
- Repayment of the line of credit was stated as the highest financial priority; operating expenses are covered first, with remaining receipts applied toward reducing the line of credit balance.
6. Policies and Procedures Manual Revision
- The manual underwent a major revision at the beginning of 2025 but has already been identified as outdated.
- Doug volunteered to lead the revision effort, with input required from all board members.
- A proposal was made to divide the manual into sections and assign each section to specific board members for review.
- Communication will be managed via a general board email thread to ensure all members have visibility.
- The target completion date for the revised manual is the August board meeting.
- Alan Burns noted he had already started work on a general overview section, which he will share.
- A board member noted that quarterly training modules through Affinity HR's Mineral platform have not been received for approximately six months.
- The original agreement called for training to be distributed quarterly rather than all at year-end.
- Pat Johnson agreed to follow up with Kim at Affinity HR to confirm whether the quarterly training schedule is still active and request that it be provided.
7. Recognition and Personnel
- Member of the Month
o Allen Cox was recognized as Member of the Month for his contributions as special operations lieutenant.
o He was described as highly trained, an excellent leader, and the driving force behind the organization's wildland program.
o Cox was unable to attend the meeting as he was deployed to Arizona earlier that morning with a crew.
o The board currently has 16 personnel deployed on 4 separate wildland units.
- Fire Marshal Hennessey Retirement
o Fire Marshal Hennessey is resigning effective the 31st. Chief Cox has been appointed acting Fire Marshal in the interim.
8. Chief's Report and Compliance
- Compliance
o The signed compliance report was submitted to the board for inclusion in the meeting minutes. No discussion was required; it serves as the chief's formal attestation that all matters are compliant.
- Daily Operations
o Standard daily operations - fire, EMS, and local calls - are ongoing with station crews running 48-hour rotations.
- Local Fire Activity
o A lightning strike brush fire occurred on Lower Sand Cove Road during the storm on approximately the 12th or 13th of the current month.
o Units responded with a brush truck and an engine and contained the fire at approximately a quarter to half an acre.
o The Chief noted that the fires visible in the area - including the Sawmill Fire in Iron County - originated from the same lightning storm and were not the result of human activity.
o The Sawmill Fire is growing; air operations out of Cedar City Airport have been conducting record-breaking air drops.
o No immediate threat to the local community is expected from current fires, though the Sawmill Fire poses some structural risk to properties near Cedar City built into brush areas.
9. Captain Carl Cardinal, a retired City of Las Vegas fire officer, was welcomed as a new Captain.
10. Wildland Operations and Financial Performance
- Active Assignments
o Unit 1351 assigned to the Dellenbaugh fire in Arizona; approximately 50% contained after wind shifted back onto the fire ground; expected release within a few days.
o Brush 1361, Brush 1362, and the REM rescue team deployed to the Rock Canyon fire; all three units expected to serve full 14-day deployment.
o One tactical ambulance with a medic configured for wildland response remains on standby for deployment with staff ready.
- Revenue and Budget Performance
o Checks received: $430,595. Invoiced and approved amounts: $372,800. Combined total: $802,595.
o Projected additional revenue: approximately $400,000 from current deployments.
Each engine averages approximately $80,000 per 14-day deployment.
The REM rescue team averages approximately $160,000 per deployment.
o Annual wildland operations revenue target: $1.6 million. Expected to reach approximately $1.2 million by end of June; roughly $400,000 more needed through July-October to hit target.
o Approximately 50% net margin after expenses on wildland deployments.
o Community fees cover only about 10% of the department's service level; remainder generated through NWCG cooperative agreements and wildland deployment revenue.
- Department Budget and Reserve Goals
- Annual budget approximately $2.5 million, The 2026 Budget is $2,334,979. Revenues are expected to exceed $2.5 million. with approximately $270,000 derived from community/fees, the rest is self-generated revenue.
o Goal: accumulate a full year of operating reserves in the bank to sustain operations independently.
o It took approximately one and a half years to reach full compliance; focus now on keeping expenses low while maximizing revenue.
11. Community Preparedness and Programs
- Firewise and Preparedness
o A June 4, 2026, KUER article highlighted the community's wildfire preparedness efforts:
Rural town of fewer than 1,000 residents between Snow Canyon Park and Pine Valley Mountains; high-risk wildfire category in Utah.
Southwestern Utah's only Firewise USA community; program more common in central/northern Utah.
Residents logged 2,000 volunteer hours in 2024 on fuel reduction and brush clearing.
Annual wildfire preparedness and evacuation workshops held by the fire department.
Free home visit program led by fire marshal to help residents reduce property risk.
Department budget exceeded $2 million in 2024, funded through training event hosting, out-of-region deployments, and federal grants.
Survey: 15% of residents had insurance canceled in past five years; nearly one-third reported moderate to significant premium increases.
Town insurance committee formed in 2024 to track impacts and educate residents.
Article generated a positive callback from the county commission.
- Wood Chipper Mitigation
o District received a wood chipper through a federal grant; operating in neighborhoods.
o Program in development to deploy chipper to elderly or physically limited residents' homes; staff perform chipping on-site.
o Managed by fire marshal's division; scheduling to be finalized once acting fire marshal (Chief Cox) is fully on board.
o Residents who hire private services can document hours and credit them to community fire council's volunteer total for grant eligibility.
- Evacuation Placards
o Evacuation placards distributed; residents asked to take one and share an extra with neighbors.
o Placards support a community platform indicating need for assistance or evacuation status to help account for members during emergencies.
Insurance Risk and Department Mission
- The Chief emphasized protecting residents' ability to obtain affordable homeowner's insurance as a core function, beyond emergency response.
- Insurance companies rate fire departments during underwriting; strong ratings can improve insurability and reduce premiums.
- Without ongoing mitigation, rural mountain communities risk becoming uninsurable; examples cited of canceled coverage forcing moves or sales.
- A board member referenced informal feedback from a regional Farmers Insurance manager of no immediate concern; Chief cautioned insurer positions can change rapidly, especially with DNR wildfire mapping updates and legislation such as HB 48.
- Battalion Chief Allen Cox noted southern Utah's dry fuel conditions are near the worst seen in the past century.
Operational Focus and Planning
- Vision 2030 Document
o Vision 2030 from prior administration is not a current operational document.
o Apparatus and equipment decisions are within the fire chief's purview; executive staff has not begun those discussions.
o Organizational focus is mid-fire season operations: staffing the station, managing deployments, and daily community protection.
o Board acknowledged the need for future goals; discussion deferred until fall when fire season activity slows.
12. Other
Equipment Contract and Zoning
- Ladder Truck Contract
o A contract concerning a ladder truck owned by the East Zion Fire Department was more of a storage agreement than an acquisition agreement.
o The contract expired on May 15; current status unclear. Original contract missing a date and mis-signed.
o Use and maintenance of the vehicle fall under the fire chief's operational authority.
o Since the board ratified the initial contract, there was a question about whether the board needs to be involved in a new one.
o The need for a new contract depends on monetary value; if over a certain amount (mentioned as ten thousand dollars), it requires board review.
13. Fire Station Zoning
- Concern raised about fire station's compliance with residential zoning, citing storage containers and operation of an EMT academy.
- Counterpoint: AI: Stated that fire stations classified as essential public services or municipal facilities in Washington County, Utah. As essential services, typically permitted in various zones, including residential, to ensure optimal response times. Pat Johnson concluded no violation.
Community Input and Public Comment
- Town Hall Meetings
o Olivia Anderson requested a town hall meeting for broader community input on department direction; differing views noted on appropriate size.
o Other members argued monthly public board meetings already suffice for community input.
o Existing forums, such as community fire council workshops, are well-attended and provide engagement with the fire chief and fire marshal.
o Public comment during regular meetings affirmed as the established procedure; board open to expanding time limits for substantive comments and will accept written comments.
- Public Comments
o Matt Anderson, a community member questioned rules limiting public comment to agenda items versus statements allowing any topic; board agreed to review wording.
o Matt Anderson raised the question about justification for staffing a four-person engine with a little over 300 calls per year; the Chief stated that calls do not matter, if we had zero calls we still would apply this income generating organization.
o Janine Robertson expressed dissatisfaction with two-minute time limit and the board's poor treatment of the community, stating concerns were elevated to state and federal levels.
o Mac Sorenson recounted that in 2020, the fire department was two days from closing because everyone quit. The previously elected board was forced to resign by the county; for four months, a two-person board ran the department until a new one was appointed. The current board is appointed by the county, not elected by Dammron Valley residents, and therefore does not represent them; characterized as a 'dictatorship,' not a democracy. To change the system, residents were advised to take concerns directly to county commissioners, the elected officials overseeing the department. Participation is generally low unless residents are angry about an issue; emphasis on civil communication and encouraging attendance to solve problems.
o Doug Markham shared an insurance experience: Bundling vehicle and home insurance can yield significant discounts; one reported a 20% reduction. Residents with older comprehensive 'dinosaur plans' were advised to keep them, as such policies are no longer written.
Motion made by Pat Johnson to adjourn the meeting, Doug Markham second. Passed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
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