IFPD board talks minutes, siren and transparency

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) Board of Commissioners met last week at its normal time: the fourth Tuesday of the month at 3 p.m. The frequency of meetings and the time has been brought up multiple times in the past as an agenda item.
The district presented Sturgeon Electric with a plaque for donating the emergency siren pole. The company also mounted the pole and the siren at no cost to the district. Both were done for the district in honor of Ross Bowlin, a power lineman for Sturgeon Electric, who was working in town and fell 30 feet from a platform July 6, 2020.
“Me and my crew of four guys and three other crews — a total of about 20 guys — were up here to reconductor a bunch of wire at the end of Tollgate,” Bowlin said.
One of the main things they are doing is changing out the overhead conductors in the area to an insulated aerial conductor which helps prevent fires. On July 6, he was replacing the crossarms that go horizontally across the pole and support the conductors with composite crossarms that won’t catch fire.
Bowlin said when he spoke at the district’s March meeting that was previously reported: “So, that’s my little accident. I can tell you guys from talking to other people and everyone else the decisions that were made that day on July 6 were the reason that I got to be there for my son’s 11th birthday. So, he read to me every night when I was in Desert Regional on the phone and I never said a word back to him. So, being able to be there with him now to get to read together is amazing. My wife and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary in November.”
Fire chief’s report
The district has assisted on the following fires during FY 2020/21: Bonita Fire (note: the newspaper consistently checks with U.S. Forest Service regarding the cause of the fire, which has not been released), Airport Fire (Corona), Mountain View Fire (Sierra Front), Silverado Fire (Orange County), North Complex (Butte), Bobcat Fire (Sierra Madre), Glass Fire (Sonoma), Castle Fire (Sonoma), August Complex (Medocino), El Dorado Fire (Yucaipa), Elk Horn Fire, Hobo Fire (Willites), Ranch Fire (Azusa), Red Salmon Fire (Willow Creek), Whitewater Fire (Cabazon), Apple Fire (Beaumont), Indian Fire (Anza) and Mile Post Fire (Hoopa). According to Chief Mark LaMont’s report, the district has billed $1,200,216.67 in mutual aid. It has received $914,685.25 in reimbursement so far.
Round one of annual abatement inspections led to 551 failed properties. The district expects to have the second inspection completed by June 30.
Also included in the chief’s report is a breakdown of mileage per district vehicle to date with the cost to replace the vehicle (included with CIP and year). Grants awarded and trainings are also listed.
Transparency
Commissioner Christina Reitz, during commissioner reports, commented that some people are hearing the siren during the test and others are not. She also commented that someone from the community mentioned to her how they feel the district’s transparency has decreased over the last year and that the webpage is difficult to navigate, and the meeting time needs to be updated. Board President Henry Sawicki asked for specifics regarding the lack of transparency so that can be addressed. Resident Tom Paulek, during citizens’ comments, brought up minute accuracy and the siren test. The district will be addressing the minutes and how they are presented and bring the May minutes back for approval at the July board meeting.
Paulek was frustrated that he could not hear the siren test from his home. During the discussion of the siren, which was listed as an agenda item, lengthening the test or at least one test to 2 minutes and then another to 3 minutes was mentioned as a possible remedy. LaMont, who was present remotely as he was assisting on the Willow Fire, said they were trying to make the test as least invasive for the community as possible and that the siren is not the only tool. There was discussion about placing more sirens throughout the community when a plan/need and funding become available.
LaMont thinks the district will need a total of three sirens and will move forward with those as soon as the district can.
Reitz also mentioned that she still was not added as a check signer on the district’s account. It was stated previously that she would be added along with whomever replaced Ralph Hoetger, who resigned due to moving out of the district. Commissioner Dan Messina was appointed at the May meeting.