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Clovis approves installation of safe‑haven baby box at Fire Station 2; city to cover estimated initial costs
Summary
The commission approved installing a safe‑haven baby box at Fire Station 2 after multi‑agency talks. Estimated startup costs are partially covered by a county $10,000 grant; staff said remaining construction and annual monitoring costs will be city‑funded from reserves.
The Clovis City Commission on Sept. 11 approved installing a safe‑haven baby box at Fire Station 2 to provide an anonymous, immediate option for someone who needs to surrender an infant safely.
Councilors and fire officials said the device complements the existing practice that all fire stations, the police department and the hospital act as safe havens but adds a discrete, monitored option when crews are not at the station. Mayor Pro Tem Bryant said the box is meant to ensure “no child is left without care and no parent feels like they don't have any options.”
City Manager Justin Hovalt outlined cost estimates: the vendor’s unit fee is about $11,000 and earlier construction costs for a comparable installation in the region were roughly $12,000. Curry County has a $10,000 grant available, Hovalt said, but the city would cover the remaining installation costs and will pay a small annual monitoring fee — he cited roughly $300 per year to monitor alarms and notifications. Hovalt said the city would fund the project from Fund 1 cash reserves and would bring a formal vendor contract to the commission.
Fire officials explained the site selection and response protocol. Fire leadership said Station 2 on Lano was chosen for privacy and better ingress/egress for someone arriving to the station. Chief Nolan (Fire Department) said crews and hospital staff will respond if a baby is placed in the box; the child would be transported to PRMC for medical evaluation and Child Youth and Family Department (CYFD) involvement would follow per protocol. Chief Chennault added that the box is intended as a last‑resort safety option and praised the community partners who have been discussing the idea for several years.
Commissioner Garza moved approval and Commissioner Casaus seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Ending: City staff will finalize a vendor contract and develop response procedures and training for fire, police and hospital staff before the box becomes operational.
