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Wasatch County fire board approves $1.84 million in warrants, outlines hiring and station plans
Summary
At a December meeting, the Wasatch County Fire Protection Special Service District board approved warrants totaling $1,844,712.77 — including a nearly $990,000 ambulance refurbishment payment — and heard updates on rising call volumes, 12 planned firefighter hires for a new station, construction progress and an Oak Haven house fire where a private water system failed.
The Wasatch County Fire Protection Special Service District board on December [date not specified in transcript] approved warrants totaling $1,844,712.77, including the second half of an ambulance refurbishment payment of just under $990,000, and received updates on operations, staffing and station construction.
Speaker 3, who provided the operational briefing, told the board that the district has "already exceeded 3,830 calls for service" this year, up from about 3,272 calls in 2023. The board approved the warrants after a motion and second; members voiced their support with recorded 'Aye' votes and the motion carried.
The ambulance payment covers refurbishment work in Las Vegas that will place the existing ambulance box on a new chassis, be repainted and receive new graphics. "You can kinda double the life of that ambulance by doing that," Speaker 3 said, adding the district has used this refurbishment approach three times with good results.
Speaker 3 also reviewed recent incidents, including mutual aid during a blizzard in South Summit and an Oak Haven house fire. At Oak Haven, crews found the private water system inoperable and "the hydrant right next to the house, unfortunately, was dead," Speaker 3 said. The state fire marshal was on site investigating the origin, which Speaker 3 said was likely the fireplace.
On facilities and staffing, Speaker 3 reported stations are in the sheetrocking and mudding phase and invited board members to schedule a walk‑through of the Jordanelle station. The district is preparing to hire for 12 full‑time positions tied to the new station; Speaker 3 said 54 candidates began the application process, two dropped out and 52 remain in the pool. The board plans to run physical agility tests, oral interviews and a medical scenario, then select top candidates for ride‑alongs before final hires. An eight‑week recruit school for 9–12 individuals is expected in January–February to prepare new hires.
The board and staff discussed likely locations for future stations after Hideout, listing the Victory/Prospera area near Highway 32 and later a site on the Highway 40 corridor near Fitzgerald Road and Lake Creek. Speaker 3 flagged unresolved Utah Department of Transportation access concerns for the Fitzgerald site and said a parcel change may be necessary if access is not approved.
On governance and risk, Speaker 3 summarized the annual fraud‑risk analysis, saying the district is currently in the "low" risk category and identifying IT security and separation of duties/cash receipting as areas for policy improvement. Speaker 3 said the district will transition to the county IT platform on Jan. 1, which staff expect will reduce those risks.
The advisory board did not meet in December; Speaker 3 said staff will present a draft strategic plan to the fire board in January 2025. The board also noted a separately advertised budget hearing scheduled for 6:00 and adjourned the meeting.
The meeting record contains motions to approve minutes for Oct. 8 and Nov. 12, approval of the warrants as presented, and a motion to adjourn. Specific vote tallies and many member names were not recorded in the transcript aside from a few spoken names (for example, 'Kendall,' 'Carl,' 'Luke,' and 'Eric').
