Windfall Equipment Gift, Radio Near-Disaster, and New Fire Station Dominate SIFPD Board Meeting

Fire Station Planning Advances as Site Survey Completed, RFP Process Nears Launch

After years of planning, the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District’s long-awaited new fire station plan has cleared a significant hurdle. A completed site survey has locked in the building footprint, septic system, and leach field placement for the Tecopa station — moving the project out of the planning phase and into the earliest stages of construction, with grant applications and a formal bidding process now on the immediate horizon.

The district’s long-term fire station planning effort reached a tangible milestone this month: a site visit with county contractor Tyson produced updated measurements and a finalized site plan for the Tecopa station, including placement of the building footprint, septic system, and leach field at the site pictured above. The board described this as the starting point for writing grant letters and formally beginning the competitive bidding process. A county-organized Zoom meeting for all RFP stakeholders was scheduled for Monday, March 23.

Board members underscored the urgency of moving quickly. “We’ve got to jump into this,” one said. “$1.5 million at this point and we’re going to be lucky to get a shell put up.”

Pahrump Valley Fire Donation Saves District an Estimated $40,000 in Equipment Costs

A chance breakfast encounter at a local eatery has delivered one of the most significant in-kind gifts in recent memory for the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District. Fire Chief Bill reported to the board that after running into Scott Lewis of Pahrump Valley Fire, he learned that Pahrump Valley was purchasing an entirely new fleet of self-contained breathing apparatus units and was prepared to give away their recently refurbished set at no cost.

“It saves us $35,000 to $40,000,” the chief told the board, noting that each new SCBA unit retails at approximately $10,000. “We do not need to purchase anything. We can take this off the list.”

The district will receive 14 units in total. Chief Bill and mechanic Larry visited Pahrump Valley on Wednesday to inspect the equipment, where firefighters walked them through operation and setup. The units are estimated to have 10 to 15 years of service life remaining. The only additional costs will be individual face masks — each firefighter requires a personally fitted mask — and fit testing, which the county will perform at no charge to the district.

The $40,000 previously budgeted for SCBA equipment will now remain unspent, contributing to a stronger-than-expected year-end budget position. The board discussed establishing a long-term SCBA replacement rotation fund — potentially $10,000 set aside annually — to be structured as a separate budget unit, similar to the existing Matkin reserve fund. Administrator Mike Jerry said he would consult the district’s bookkeeper, Courtney, about the most appropriate accounting structure.

Radio Tower Disconnection Leaves District Briefly Without Emergency Communications

In what board members described as a “scary moment,” the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District was left without any radio communications for fire and emergency medical services Thursday morning after a third-party group disconnected the district’s antenna from a shared tower.

Chief Bill reported that at approximately 10 a.m., he received a frantic call from the county radio coordinator, who discovered that the MRA group — which owns the tower used by the district — had removed the district’s antenna connection to repurpose the coaxial cable for equipment being installed for the upcoming Baker-to-Vegas relay run. There is an ongoing dispute between the county and MRA over ownership of that cable, and the MRA group appeared unaware of, or unconcerned with, the impact on emergency services.

He immediately escalated the matter to county counsel. Within approximately one hour, the antenna was reconnected and normal communications were restored. During the outage, the district’s contingency plan would have involved using the sheriff’s radio for dispatch and coordinating call-outs via a WhatsApp-based phone tree.

The incident had a significant silver lining: the radio coordinator contacted the county representative and demanded emergency-priority relocation of the district’s repeater. The repeater will now be moved to Shoshone ahead of schedule — a faster solution than the previously planned move. The district has been working for months to relocate the repeater to improve communications coverage across its broad service area; the morning’s crisis accelerated that timeline considerably.

“A fortunate outcome for a mildly unfortunate situation,” one board member remarked. The next repeater update is expected within the week.

Budget Picture Brightens as Assessments, Baker-to-Vegas Fees, and SCBA Savings Converge

Treasurer Colette Zelwer presented a monthly budget review that drew cautious optimism from the full board. Current actual revenues stand at $68,000 but are expected to rise to approximately $102,000 once the remainder of the district’s annual property assessments are collected. An additional $7,000 in Baker-to-Vegas run fees — which arrived at the eleventh hour from event organizers just last week ahead of this weekend’s run — and approximately $3,000 in treasury interest income push the anticipated revenue position higher still. With the SCBA donation eliminating the need to spend the $40,000 budgeted for that equipment, and the district tracking under budget in several other categories, the year-end shortfall — once a significant concern — may be negligible or nonexistent.

Zelwer also addressed an apparent anomaly in the ambulance budget line. Expenses appear elevated because the district’s bookkeeper changed the accounting treatment for the Maddie grant: previously, grant reimbursements were processed by backing expenses out; this year, expenses remain on the books while reimbursements flow through the revenue side. The result is a budget that looks inflated on the expense side but actually reflects more accurate accounting. Future budget planning will benefit from the cleaner methodology.

A financial audit quote from a new vendor came in at approximately $875 per fiscal year for the next four years, covering the district’s biannual independent audit.

Two Sheriff’s Expeditions to Join Fire Fleet After County Transfer

The Inyo County Board of Supervisors authorized on March 3 the transfer of two Ford Expedition SUVs from the Sheriff’s Office to the fire district. One unit will replace the district’s current primary response vehicle; the second will be an additional resource.

Before the vehicles enter service, the district must remove sheriff’s department decals, apply fire department markings, and reprogram the emergency light systems from blue to red — fire apparatus are prohibited from carrying blue lights. Chief Bill said he will obtain quotes for decal work and noted that reprogramming the light controllers will likely require a trip to Macintosh Electronics in Las Vegas. If the controllers are not remotely programmable, a panel replacement may be necessary. Both vehicles come fully equipped, including radios.

Ambulance Fleet in Best Shape “In a Long Time” After Series of Repairs

The fleet mechanic reported that all three district ambulances are now in serviceable condition simultaneously — a milestone the board acknowledged had not been reached in some time. Unit CR-71 had its air conditioning system repaired and is back in service. Unit CR-73 received new brakes at a cost of $2,300 after an ABS brake failure; the same unit previously required a full transmission replacement covered by the Maddie grant and earlier AC work, bringing its total maintenance investment over the past year to roughly $10,000. One engine in the motor pool was also identified as needing a new water pump and minor additional work, noted for future scheduling. The board agreed to combine the fleet mechanic report and motor pool status into a single agenda item going forward.

Board Defers Tax Ballot Measure Decision, Eyes 2028 Election as More Strategic Window

The board’s exploratory committee on a special tax assessment ballot measure reported continued uncertainty about timing, ultimately deciding to defer any decision until the April meeting, pending new cost data expected from a county meeting scheduled for Monday.

The district’s existing Measure J tax assessment dates to approximately the year 2000, meaning the district has not seen a revenue increase in roughly 25 years. During that period, property transfers have actually reduced the district’s tax base. The committee was first convened at the March 2025 board meeting.

Several factors are shaping the timeline. The district does not yet have final cost estimates for its planned fire station construction projects, making it premature to draft a measure that adequately covers both operational needs and capital construction. Board members also raised pointed concerns about political optics: the district serves both the Tecopa/Shoshone corridor and the more remote Charleston View community, and multiple voices warned that if Charleston View voters perceive the district is prioritizing Tecopa infrastructure while leaving their area underserved, no tax measure will pass regardless of how it is worded.

“Nobody in Charleston View is going to vote for any kind of tax increase for SIFPD” if they feel their community is being sidelined, one board member said.

A potential path forward for Charleston View emerged in the discussion: a “community outreach center” concept that would co-locate the fire station, Sheriff’s Office, and Inyo County Health and Human Services in a single facility. HHS has access to a broader pool of grant funding for such hubs, and housing public safety agencies within the building would strengthen any grant application. The board agreed to raise this concept at Monday’s county meeting.

The board also weighed the merits of waiting until the 2028 presidential election cycle, when voter turnout is typically higher. A two-thirds majority is required to pass a special tax assessment. Any future measure, board members agreed, must include a built-in cost-of-living escalator — likely between 1.5% and 3% annually — to prevent the district from finding itself in the same position in another two decades. The item will return on the April agenda.

Permit Finalized, Propane Work Authorized

Administrator Mike Jerry reported that the long-pending electrical permit for the generator transfer switch was signed off by D&J Electrical that morning, clearing the way to schedule installation. On the generator’s propane supply, Jerry reported that Amerigas — contacted for a second competitive quote — declined to provide a full-service installation, offering only to install a regulator and run a gas line through a pre-dug trench to a pre-poured slab with a customer-supplied tank. Their quote was effectively inapplicable. The board voted 3–0–0 to proceed with Shoshone Propane, which had previously submitted a complete-service quote of approximately $2,100.

Spending Cap Proposed for Educational Assistance Policy

Chief Lutze proposed adding a monetary limit to Board Policy 2120, the district’s educational assistance reimbursement policy, citing a prior experience in which employees were sent through an expensive credentialing program without a spending cap and subsequently left the organization within two years. After researching community college tuition costs in the region — averaging approximately $325 per semester — Bill proposed a cap of $350 per semester, or a maximum of $700 per employee per year, with advance written approval required from the fire chief and board of directors before any coursework begins. The administrator will formalize the language and bring the amended policy back for a formal vote in April.

Weird Tales Festival Planning Gains Momentum; Youth Participation Sought

The fundraising committee reported meaningful progress on its most ambitious upcoming event: the Weird Tales Festival. Previously informal planning sessions with event partner Ted Faye have been formalized as agendized committee meetings open to all board members, and a working event structure has been developed. Sarah Jane — known to many in the community as Wonderhussy, and a key draw for SIFPD events — has rejoined the effort after stepping back from recent activities, a development the committee called gracious and significant for the event’s success. Volunteers have also been recruited from Great Basin College.

A $20,000 fundraising target has been set, with a potential agreement to share proceeds above that threshold with Ted Faye’s youth arts nonprofit. The committee is also exploring a yard sale fundraiser using donated items currently filling a garage and trailer. Community member Christiana, attending via Zoom, was asked whether students at the local school might be interested in participating or volunteering; she agreed to reach out, particularly to teens with an interest in writing, storytelling, or the arts.

Water Kiosk in Good Shape; Shade Structure Under Consideration

The water kiosk committee reported stable operations and a healthy financial position, with current revenues of $3,490 and an additional $7,000 to $8,000 GIS grant expected at fiscal year end. The committee is evaluating designs for a shade structure or awning over the kiosk, considered essential given desert summer temperatures. A small plumbing air-gap correction also remains on the to-do list. Overall inventory is current and the kiosk is operating smoothly.

The Southern Inyo Fire Protection District Board of Directors meets next on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. at the Hurlbut Rook Community Center, 405 Tecopa Hot Springs Road, Tecopa. The public is welcome. For more information, contact the district office at (760) 852-4130 or visit sifpd.org.