White Mountain Fire Protection District
Minutes
Regular Meeting
July 01, 2025 06:00 PM
25470 Hwy 6, Benton, CA 93512
https://www.whitemountainfpd.org/
-
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:28 pm by Chair Jarret Phillips.
-
Roll Call
Present: Chair Jarret Phillips, Vice-Chair Matt Yount, Commissioner Dan Eder, Commissioner Jennifer Oakes, Commissioner Jerold Blain
Staff Present: Jo Ann Morgan, Sec/Treas
-
Roll Call
-
Public Comments
None
-
Secretary/Treasurer Report - Jo Ann Morgan
Fund Balances
Fund balances: ESCB $ 143,644.26, Fire Fund 335 $ 73,328.92, Reserve Fund 336 $ 9,744.75 and EMS Fund 338 $ 25,635.14. Updating roster, warrant authorization form for Mono County. The letter from the board to update signatures for ESCB presented and signed by Jarret.
Budget Performance/Amendments/Adjustments
Chief Doonan reviewed last year's budget Revenue is over budget on the fire side and under budget by a small margin on the EMS side. This could be adjusted once Medicare payments are received and applied. Going line item by line item discussing problems in spending and solutions for upcoming budget. Jo Ann and Dave will meet to look at details, correct then come back with proposed budget.
Carry over balances what is left in accounts on June 30. These would go into a reserve account separate from general accounts. $13,400 to Vehicle Replacement, $ 26,800 to Cash Reserve $13,400 to Capital Reserve and $ 13,400 to Building Reserve.
EMS Billing
No Action
-
Consent Agenda
Approval of Minutes - February 19, 2025 and Mrch 19, 2025
Approve Financial Report
Vice-Chair Matt Yount motioned to approve. Commissioner Jennifer Oakes seconded the motion.
The motion passed with the following vote:
5 In Favor 0 Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
-
New Station Project
Discussion: We applied to Senator Schiff and representative Kiley. We heard back that Senator Shiff chose our project to move forward. Representative Kiley chose Sunny Slopes. There were 1800 applications, they chose 15. We had support letters from neighboring communities which helped. Now we wait for appropriated funds. At that time, we would register with USDA Rural Facilities, Rural community development as they become the distributor of the funds. We have negotiated with architect at our price needs. The property in Hammil Valley is now hung up in an ad hoc committee that allows no participation from us.
-
Fire Service Building Mitigation Fees
Tabled
-
Benton Tribal Hydrant System
Discussing a time to meet with tribe and environmental tech.
Tabled.
-
Benton Hot Springs Service Agreement
Discussing MOU. Tabled.
-
Music Festival
Update from Jarret re: Raffle prizes donated (Hog hunt). Pete Watercott will MC and provide music with Jacamo. Tents and sound are available. Food vendors are returning. Still working on alcohol. Working on T-Shirt design. Vendors are signing up. All this information is transferred to WMFPD website.
-
2025 Wildfire Mitigation/Fuels Reduction Grant Grant
The fuels reduction, chipping and fuels breaks in the community. The plan would be to get a Masticator, a chipper, a pickup to haul chipper and 3 people to provide labor. It is reimbursable grant. It would be better to come up with a Community Wildfire Prevention Plan, which is an official planning document that identifies the hazards, have a couple to public meetings involving the community to help identify problems prior to applying for the grant.
-
AFG Vehicle Replacement Grant
Tabled. No awards have been made.
-
Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant
Dave applied for this grant. It's a 50/50 grant with CalFire on equipment. Applied for 5 structural turnout sets, a thermal imaging camera for engine, 3 new gas monitors, 7 new wildland fire shelters, wildland pants, hoses packs, clamps and hand tools for a total of $ 39,650. Tabled.
-
Staff Reports
Chief Doonan
*FY 25/26 Budget Process
*Mobile Communications Update
*Mono County EMS Ad Hoc Committee
*Hwy 360 Traffic Accident
FY 25/26 Budget Process: Discussed already.
Mobile Communications: Made the switch to StarLink. Works everywhere. Units are in EMS Vehicle, Medic 4, Engine 3033 and Chief Command Vehicle. Provides enhanced tracking ability.
Mono County EMS Ad Hoc Committee: Already discussed
Hwy 360 Traffic Accident: Gave report on incident describing our personnel performance. He explained the legal necessity declaring someone deceased at a scene, the criteria involved.
New engine has all the graphics on it. Has a generator that works, has great power. Need to get phone system working. All equipment mounted and organized. It has better lights for calls.
Facilities Manager - Renae Kaiser
Association fund balance $ 22,149.48. Facility report: requested a new dumpster.
EMS Captain - Matt Doonan
*ESO PCR Integration
*EMS Billing Procedures
Operations: On the calls that have come in we have good coverage. In the process of transitioning EMS reporting to new reporting software. It will resolve billing problems. Matt anticipates out billing percentages will go up. The new billing company is more on top of tracking down runs. ICEMA has set ambulance bill rates, they did a rate adjustment have increased significantly. Loading fee and mileage. There are still limitations with Medicare and MedCal.
EMT class in the fall scheduled along with Adv EMT Class in winter. Department will pay for class. Still looking for recruitments.
Training Coordinator - James Janney
*Training Report
*IaR/ESO Transition Status
Training Report: 428 hours of training. Tracking all personnel.
laR/ESO Transition: All but 2 people are on this platform. Completed Vehicle extrication training. Connected with a transporter to train cutting on cars. Fit testing complete. Training on the engine. Other training planned in the months ahead.
-
Future Agenda Items
Approve 25-26 budget
-
Next Meeting Date
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 6:00 PM
-
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned: 8:03 PM