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Orderville board adopts wildfire code amendment, updates participation and 2025 preparedness plan
Summary
The Orderville town board approved amendments to local WUI code language (Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 3.4), amended the town's cooperative wildfire participation statement for 2025 and approved the Community Wildland Preparedness Plan for 2025; officials said the moves respond to a state mandate and statewide mapping that will affect property evaluations and insurance ratings.
Orderville’s town board approved a suite of wildfire measures on a unanimous voice vote, including a wording amendment to Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 3.4 of the municipal code, an amended 2025 cooperative wildfire participation statement and the town’s Community Wildland Preparedness Plan for 2025.
Planning discussion introduced the proposed WUI (wildland‑urban interface) language and explained the change is driven by a state mapping effort that will identify where wildland touches urban homes and prompt property evaluations. An unidentified board member summarized the state timeline and implications, saying, “But it is mandated by state to approve this thing.” The speaker said the state’s mapping and ratings program will evaluate properties over a two‑year period and that ratings (1, 2 or 3) could affect homeowner insurance beginning in 2028.
Town staff described the cooperative participation statement as an administrative update documenting work already completed and noted the amended statement must be signed and submitted this year. The board moved and amended the municipal‑code language on the floor, then approved the amended participation statement and the 2025 preparedness plan. The transcript records a voice vote for each item and the presiding official declared the motions carried.
Why this matters: the code language and formal plan position the town to comply with state requirements and access coordinated mitigation steps. Planning staff told the board the changes set the local framework for how properties within the WUI will be treated and what restrictions or expectations may attach; the board did not adopt a local opt‑out and staff emphasized compliance is necessary to avoid state penalties.
Next steps: staff will file the signed participation statement and the town’s approved 2025 preparedness plan with the state as required. The board did not add implementation dates beyond those noted by staff; any property‑specific inspections or rating notices will be handled per state guidance when the mapping and evaluation work begins.
