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Mono County approves $95,000 assessment of its Office of Emergency Management after debate over outreach and scope
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Summary
The board voted 4–1 to contract Municipal Management Solutions LLC for a countywide emergency-management assessment expected to take three to four months and cost $95,000. Supervisors sought stronger in-person stakeholder outreach and town cost-sharing; Supervisor Dugan dissented.
The Mono County Board of Supervisors on March 10 approved a $95,000 contract with Municipal Management Solutions LLC (MMS) for a comprehensive assessment of the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
County staff described the study’s scope as a holistic evaluation of emergency-management functions, including coordination with local fire chiefs, review of the wildfire coordinator role and benchmarking against similar counties. The consultant proposed a 3–4 month turnaround.
Several supervisors pressed staff to ensure in-person stakeholder outreach, stronger external communications and consideration of cost-sharing with the town of Mammoth Lakes. Supervisor Dugan raised concerns that the county has already gathered much internal information and suggested hiring an interim emergency manager instead of paying for an outside study; Dugan voted no. Supervisor Peters moved approval; the motion passed 4–1 by roll call.
Sheriff Ron Braun supported the assessment but said dispatch and emergency medical dispatch requirements mean the county must act quickly on operational changes. Staff said the contract could recommend whether responsibilities should shift between departments and whether the county ought to expand the emergency-management team.
The board directed staff to return with the consultant’s findings and any recommended changes to roles, responsibilities or budgets. The contract does not create new permanent positions; details of any future staffing changes will come back to the board.
