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Madera County approves $534,343 wildfire‑defense grant agreement; resident questions contractor records
Summary
The board approved entering into an agreement to administer a $534,343 Community Wildfire Defense Grant with Coarse Gold Resource Conservation District and appropriate the revenue; a resident, Christopher Garza, objected in public comment alleging no RFP and discrepancies in the contractor’s Secretary of State filings, and county staff said the county will serve as fiscal agent with oversight opportunities.
Madera County’s Board of Supervisors on April 7 approved entering into an agreement with the Coarse Gold Resource Conservation District to implement work under a $534,343 U.S. Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG), and appropriated unanticipated revenue to carry out the project.
County Grants Officer Tristan Shamp told the board the CWDG award was originally requested in October 2023 and the county, as lead applicant, planned for the county to act as fiscal agent and grant manager while CRCD would be the prime contractor and subcontract with local conservation and fire-safe councils to deliver outreach, Firewise USA activities and fuel‑treatment work in eastern Madera County.
“Under this proposed arrangement it is intended that the county will serve as the fiscal agent and grant manager for the award, working with the Coarse Gold Resource Conservation District as our prime contractor,” Shamp said.
During public comment, resident Christopher Garza urged supervisors to review corporate filings and questioned whether the county solicited bids for the work. Garza said he could find no record of an RFP and that Secretary of State filings for the named nonprofit did not match the address in the contract, and he submitted a business filing certificate for the board’s review.
“Given the prevalence of fraud in this state, especially involving federal money ... I cannot see how this contract and grant money can be awarded to this organization,” Garza said, and asked supervisors to review his documents.
Chair McCully responded that the county will have oversight while acting as fiscal agent. Shamp confirmed the county will manage and oversee the funds and project activities. The board approved the agreement and the appropriation by roll call vote, 4‑0.
The contract term presented in the agenda ends Sept. 30, 2029. Shamp said the award will fund outreach, establishment of Firewise communities and fuel‑treatment projects in fire‑prone mountain communities.
Next steps: staff will finalize the contract documents and proceed with the county’s fiscal‑agent responsibilities and oversight provisions.
