El Dorado County Grand Jury
• 2013-2014
• Agency Response
El Dorado County Grand Jury 2013-2014 Lake Valley Fire Protection District Radio Equipment Purchases
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Page 3
Gareth Harris, doing business as Tamalpais Emergency Services, provided radios and radio equipment to the Lake Valley Fire Protection District while serving first as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief and later as Chief of the District.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 1
The Lake Valley Fire Protection District should resubmit its request that a check be issued to Tamalpais Emergency Services in the amount of $6,784.18.
F2
Page 3
While serving as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief, Harris charged the District 5% over the amounts he paid Kenwood for equipment. Although he certainly had out of pocket costs, the Grand Jury had insufficient information to determine those costs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 1
The Auditor-Controller for El Dorado County should issue the check as requested.
F3
Page 3
While serving as Chief, Harris made no profit from the District but charged exactly the sum he paid to Kenwood Communications and to the Board of Equalization. He received no compensation from the District or Kenwood for these sales.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Page 3
Procuring equipment through Harris and Tamalpais Emergency Services saved Lake Valley Fire District substantial amounts of money. Without Harris’ assistance in these procurements the District would have faced significant financial hardship in its efforts to comply with FCC requirements to upgrade its equipment. Public safety may well have been jeopardized.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 4
While serving as Fire Marshall and Battalion Chief, Harris had no role in making procurement decisions for the District.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Page 4
The only financial interest Harris may have had in sales to the District after he became Chief were those that might accrue in the future from his continued relationship with Kenwood. These are both speculative and de minimis.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 4
Gareth Harris, acting as Tamalpais Emergency Services, did not violate Government Code § 1090 when he sold radios and equipment to the District.
No recommendations for this finding