Kings County board votes to end Avenal fire-service contract effective Oct. 31

The Kings County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Sept. 30 to withdraw county fire services from the City of Avenal, with the county to end operations in Avenal effective Oct. 31, 2025.

The vote followed a multi-hour presentation and discussion that laid out negotiation history, budget impacts and operational concerns. John Chamberlain, Kings County fire chief, summarized the county’s options and recommended a path that would have allowed a longer transition but said the city had repeatedly failed to act on an amended agreement the board previously returned to the city on Aug. 12. “We have no problem with them starting their own fire department,” Chamberlain said. “I'll say that again. We have no problem with them starting their own fire department.”

Chamberlain told supervisors he was constrained by staffing and budget uncertainty. He said the county budget had been drafted assuming an agreement that would provide roughly $1,100,000 in revenue and that, without a signed contract, he had returned uncashed checks because he lacked authority to deposit or expend funds. “The budget you passed last meeting specifically was built on the premise that we had an agreement with them for an additional $1,100,000, and that is not in place,” he said.

Union leadership and law enforcement urged the board to resolve the dispute. Ed Ryman, president of the Kings County Firefighters Association, said the contract impasse has persisted long enough and warned of morale and safety risks: “We’ve been out of contract for 14 months,” he said. Sheriff Dave Robinson said previous separations of city and county public-safety services required long planning windows and urged clear transition terms. “At some point… you gotta true up the bill,” Robinson said, later warning that dispatch and after-hours records contracts could be affected by any service change.

County administrative officer Kira Martinez (soon to be county executive officer) told the board staff had presented four formal options in the agenda packet: (a) approve a year’s payment and a short termination clause; (b) approve an 18-month termination structure that the board previously approved; (c) approve the city’s version of the contract with a six-month termination clause; or (d) withdraw county services. Martinez said staff’s preferred approach earlier had been a hybrid that would issue a 30-day termination notice while leaving the previously approved 18-month option available if the city formally accepted it, but that the city had not agendized or acted on the amended agreement the county had returned to the city on Aug. 12.

After public comment that included more than a dozen speakers from Avenal and surrounding areas — some urging the board to preserve county services and others urging the city’s right to form its own department — Supervisor [motion-maker not specified] moved to implement option D: withdraw county fire services from the City of Avenal effective Oct. 31, 2025. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Rusty Robinson and passed 5-0 on a roll call.

Public testimony spanned broad views. David Price, a registered nurse who oversees district school health services, warned the board that losing Station 12 would risk response times and local safety. “Tragedy is inevitable if we lose Station 12,” Price said. Several Avenal officials and supporters, including Mayor Alvaro Preciado and consultant Ruben Veil, argued the city is pursuing a legitimate plan to stand up its own fire department and asked the board for flexible exit language to allow the city to activate a department earlier than the longer transition the county sought.

City manager Anthony Lopez told the board the city has contracted a new auditor and that its financial records should be current by December 2025; he said the city anticipated being able to proceed with other planning steps. Lopez also said the city prefers termination flexibility so it can activate local services when ready.

Board members expressed frustration over repeated delays in the city council’s handling of the amended agreement and the effect on county planning and employees. Several supervisors said they supported giving the city time to form its own department if the city agendized and approved the previously returned amended agreement, but they also said they could not continue to hold county resources indefinitely without a signed contract.

What the vote means: If the county withdraws services, County Fire will remove personnel and apparatus assigned to Station 12 in Avenal and reassign or absorb those staff into county vacancies. Chief Chamberlain emphasized the operational challenges of an immediate exit, including potential mandatory overtime, layoffs or reassignment and the need for planning to maintain coverage in adjacent areas. The board and staff said the board could reconsider county services if the city formally accepts the previously returned amended agreement at a future meeting.

Background: The dispute traces to negotiations over an amended fire-service contract. The board previously sent an amended agreement back to the city on Aug. 12; county staff and the fire chief described multiple offers and counteroffers during months of talks. The city passed Measure A, a 1% sales tax in November 2022, that city officials have said would fund local services; county staff said the measure did not specify the provider of fire services. Sheriff Robinson warned that related contracts — including dispatch and after-hours records services the county currently provides to Avenal — could be subject to renegotiation if the city ends its fire contract.

Next steps: County staff said they will implement the board’s directive to end services effective Oct. 31 and will present any follow-up items needed to manage personnel and public-safety continuity at upcoming meetings. The board noted it could revisit the decision if the city agendizes and accepts the county’s previously returned agreement.

Quotes (selected)

"We have no problem with them starting their own fire department. I'll say that again." — John Chamberlain, Kings County fire chief

"We've been out of contract for 14 months." — Ed Ryman, president, Kings County Firefighters Association

"At some point... you've gotta true up the bill." — Dave Robinson, Kings County sheriff

"The budget you passed last meeting specifically was built on the premise that we had an agreement with them for an additional $1,100,000, and that is not in place." — John Chamberlain, Kings County fire chief

Ending: County staff will begin the operational work required to end county fire services in Avenal on Oct. 31 and said they will return to the board with needed implementation steps. The board left the door open to reconsideration if the Avenal City Council formally accepts the county’s amended agreement in a subsequent, agendized action.