Sheriff presents wildfire-preparedness plan, dispatcher retention incentive and EMPG grant application; commissioners approve

Chief Arnold Butcher, speaking for the Sheriff’s Office, asked the commission on May 12 to approve three items related to public safety.

First, Butcher presented the Utah community wildfire interface (WUI) preparedness plan for Davis County. He said the plan has no financial attachment, will run from May 12, 2026 through May 12, 2031, and is intended to guide WUI preparedness in what he described as a very dry year for much of the state.

Second, Butcher asked the commission to approve a dispatch transition retention incentive policy intended to retain dispatchers during an upcoming consolidation with a latent dispatch operation. He described dispatch as an under-recognized but difficult public-safety role and said the policy would require a commission exception to a county sick-leave rule in order to provide a modest retention incentive.

Third, Butcher described an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) application to the Utah Department of Public Safety. He said the office planned to apply; the presentation mentioned anticipating a $50,000 application and referenced a $75,000 grant figure in the discussion. The grant item’s stated dates in the presentation were July 1, 2025 through June 20, 2026.

A commissioner moved to approve items 9, 10 and 11; the motion was seconded and the commission approved all three by voice vote. The chair later recorded the approvals as unanimous. Butcher emphasized preparation for wildfire risk and the need to support dispatch staff through the transition; no additional funding beyond the grant application or specific retention-incentive dollar amounts were provided in the meeting record.