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Santaquin council approves cooperative wildfire mitigation agreement with state
Summary
The Santaquin City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to approve Resolution 204, a cooperative wildfire mitigation agreement accepting approximately $15,000 from a state WUI allocation for fuels-reduction work.
The Santaquin City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to approve Resolution 204, a cooperative wildfire mitigation agreement that accepts a state wildland-urban-interface (WUI) allocation of approximately $15,000 and directs the city to use the funds for mitigation work in high-risk areas.
Chris (the city’s emergency manager) told the council that the state had allocated the money based on the jurisdiction’s WUI assessment and that the most effective use would be mitigation work—thinning, chipping and other fuels reduction—especially on the East Bench and the Great Cliffs area. "The state has already said, here's 15 ks, right? So, now, we need to use that money," Chris said.
Staff explained options for carrying out the work: contract for services, deploy a dedicated city crew, or combine contracted work with city personnel and volunteer support. The city may request a state chipper if one is available, though the state-supplied equipment is loaned and may not always be available. Staff also noted a practical constraint: if municipal crews are deployed to mitigation work, response capability for emergency calls may be reduced unless a dedicated crew is assigned.
Council discussion clarified budget and reporting implications. The council was told the $15,000 is a state grant tied to WUI obligations; the city must justify the work performed or the expenditures covered by the grant. Staff indicated the city expects to surpass the $15,000 in hours and volunteer activity but must document that the grant obligation has been met.
Motion and vote: A motion to approve Resolution 204 (Cooperative Wildfire Agreement) was moved and seconded; the roll call vote was Bridal — Aye; Art — Aye; Jeff — Aye; Lynn — Aye; Travis — Aye. The motion passed unanimously.
Ending: The mayor and staff said they would sign the agreement and forward the paperwork to the state; staff will coordinate with Forestry, Fire and State Lands on implementation and will bring updates to council as projects progress.
