Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2005-2006
A Long Road for Leggett a Report on the Leggett Valley Fire Protection District
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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 19 findings
F1
The Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) tax base covers 53 square miles.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
County government actively promote opportunities for economic development in the Leggett area. (Findings 1-4, 11, 12, 14, 19) Comments Lack of community support is the most critical issue facing the LVFPD. The Grand Jury found that while offers of support are received by the department, few of these result in real assistance. Lack of economic opportunity in the north central portion of Mendocino County results in few people being able and/or willing to participate in the fire department. Most people work out of the area and so are unable to respond to calls during the day or to participate in the extensive training required of department personnel. The majority of older residents in the Leggett area have already served in the fire department and are unwilling or unable to do so again. This leaves primarily younger residents as the volunteer pool, most of whom do not have the time. The chief is the operational head of the department. Making the office of chief a paid position will alleviate some of the pressure on him, allowing him to devote a portion of his time to the behind-the-scenes department business like grant writing and community outreach efforts. It is very difficult to hold a fulltime job and carry out the duties of the chief. County government also has a role to play. Only it can address the lack of economic opportunity in the Leggett area; only if people are able to live and work in the area can the fire department be viable in the long term. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Finding 19, Recommendation 6) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (Recommendation 6) Board of Directors, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 1-5) Chief, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 2, 3, 5)
F2
The LVFPD response area covers 155 square miles.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
County government actively promote opportunities for economic development in the Leggett area. (Findings 1-4, 11, 12, 14, 19) Comments Lack of community support is the most critical issue facing the LVFPD. The Grand Jury found that while offers of support are received by the department, few of these result in real assistance. Lack of economic opportunity in the north central portion of Mendocino County results in few people being able and/or willing to participate in the fire department. Most people work out of the area and so are unable to respond to calls during the day or to participate in the extensive training required of department personnel. The majority of older residents in the Leggett area have already served in the fire department and are unwilling or unable to do so again. This leaves primarily younger residents as the volunteer pool, most of whom do not have the time. The chief is the operational head of the department. Making the office of chief a paid position will alleviate some of the pressure on him, allowing him to devote a portion of his time to the behind-the-scenes department business like grant writing and community outreach efforts. It is very difficult to hold a fulltime job and carry out the duties of the chief. County government also has a role to play. Only it can address the lack of economic opportunity in the Leggett area; only if people are able to live and work in the area can the fire department be viable in the long term. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Finding 19, Recommendation 6) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (Recommendation 6) Board of Directors, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 1-5) Chief, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 2, 3, 5)
F3
Sixty percent of district calls are medical responses.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
County government actively promote opportunities for economic development in the Leggett area. (Findings 1-4, 11, 12, 14, 19) Comments Lack of community support is the most critical issue facing the LVFPD. The Grand Jury found that while offers of support are received by the department, few of these result in real assistance. Lack of economic opportunity in the north central portion of Mendocino County results in few people being able and/or willing to participate in the fire department. Most people work out of the area and so are unable to respond to calls during the day or to participate in the extensive training required of department personnel. The majority of older residents in the Leggett area have already served in the fire department and are unwilling or unable to do so again. This leaves primarily younger residents as the volunteer pool, most of whom do not have the time. The chief is the operational head of the department. Making the office of chief a paid position will alleviate some of the pressure on him, allowing him to devote a portion of his time to the behind-the-scenes department business like grant writing and community outreach efforts. It is very difficult to hold a fulltime job and carry out the duties of the chief. County government also has a role to play. Only it can address the lack of economic opportunity in the Leggett area; only if people are able to live and work in the area can the fire department be viable in the long term. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Finding 19, Recommendation 6) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (Recommendation 6) Board of Directors, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 1-5) Chief, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 2, 3, 5)
F4
Thirty percent of district calls are traffic-related.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
County government actively promote opportunities for economic development in the Leggett area. (Findings 1-4, 11, 12, 14, 19) Comments Lack of community support is the most critical issue facing the LVFPD. The Grand Jury found that while offers of support are received by the department, few of these result in real assistance. Lack of economic opportunity in the north central portion of Mendocino County results in few people being able and/or willing to participate in the fire department. Most people work out of the area and so are unable to respond to calls during the day or to participate in the extensive training required of department personnel. The majority of older residents in the Leggett area have already served in the fire department and are unwilling or unable to do so again. This leaves primarily younger residents as the volunteer pool, most of whom do not have the time. The chief is the operational head of the department. Making the office of chief a paid position will alleviate some of the pressure on him, allowing him to devote a portion of his time to the behind-the-scenes department business like grant writing and community outreach efforts. It is very difficult to hold a fulltime job and carry out the duties of the chief. County government also has a role to play. Only it can address the lack of economic opportunity in the Leggett area; only if people are able to live and work in the area can the fire department be viable in the long term. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Finding 19, Recommendation 6) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (Recommendation 6) Board of Directors, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 1-5) Chief, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 2, 3, 5)
F5
The LVFPD has recently employed a collection agency to recover costs for responses outside district boundaries and calls involving nonresidents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
the LVFPD monitor collection results for out-of-district responses. (Finding 5)
F6
The LVFPD budget includes $25,000 to pay matching funds on a $189,000 FEMA grant used for purchasing a new fire truck yet to be delivered.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
the LVFPD establish operating reserves. (Findings 6, 7,18)
F7
The total LVFPD 2005-2006 budget is $52,300, which includes the $25,000 matching funds.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The chief receives no compensation.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
the LVFPD make the office of chief a paid position. (Findings 8, 9,11)
F9
The chief spends many hours per week on fire department business, including arranging training schedules, arranging for equipment maintenance, recruiting volunteers, writing grant proposals, and monitoring expenditures.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The LVFPD has insufficient community support.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the LVFPD work to increase community support. (Findings 10-14, 16)
F11
Most Leggett residents work outside the area.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the LVFPD work to increase community support. (Findings 10-14, 16)
F12
Most of the older residents have already served in the fire department.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the LVFPD work to increase community support. (Findings 10-14, 16)
F13
The LVFPD has a roster of nine volunteers, including the chief, assistant chief, two captains and five firefighters.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the LVFPD work to increase community support. (Findings 10-14, 16)
F14
All available personnel respond to calls.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
the LVFPD work to increase community support. (Findings 10-14, 16)
F15
Responders receive no compensation.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The LVFPD has an ongoing training program.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The LVFPD has an active fleet of three vehicles; all are at least ten years old, the oldest vehicle is 30 years old.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
the LVFPD develop a long term plan for replacing equipment. (Findings 17, 18)
F18
The LVFPD does not have a long range plan for replacing equipment.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
An ad hoc committee of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has been directed to explore ways in which the County can assist rural fire districts.
No recommendations for this finding
Comments 1
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CO1Lack of community support is the most critical issue facing the LVFPD. The Grand Jury found that while offers of support are received by the department, few of these result in real assistance. Lack of economic opportunity in the north central portion of Mendocino County results in few people being able and/or willing to participate in the fire department. Most people work out of the area and so are unable to respond to calls during the day or to participate in the extensive training required of department personnel. The majority of older residents in the Leggett area have already served in the fire department and are unwilling or unable to do so again. This leaves primarily younger residents as the volunteer pool, most of whom do not have the time. The chief is the operational head of the department. Making the office of chief a paid position will alleviate some of the pressure on him, allowing him to devote a portion of his time to the behind-the-scenes department business like grant writing and community outreach efforts. It is very difficult to hold a fulltime job and carry out the duties of the chief. County government also has a role to play. Only it can address the lack of economic opportunity in the Leggett area; only if people are able to live and work in the area can the fire department be viable in the long term. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Finding 19, Recommendation 6) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (Recommendation 6) Page 2 of 3 2005-2006 Mendocino County Grand Jury Board of Directors, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 1-5) Chief, Leggett Valley Fire Protection District (Findings 1-18, Recommendations 2, 3, 5) Page 3 of 3 2005-2006 Mendocino County Grand Jury
No Responses Found 1
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