Manton Firesafe Council Community Meeting Notes from February 14th, 2022 at MVFD
MANTON FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Minutes of the Community Meeting
February 14, 2022
6:00 p.m.
Location of Meeting:
Manton Volunteer Fire Department
Present at Meeting: Board Members: Janet Jensen, Joanne
Paquin Sproul, Renee Timmons, Heather Boone, Elliott
Proffitt.
Attending: Ken Bell, Regina Bell, Tom Twist, Paul Crabtree,
Hal Sawyer, Carl Gehassi, Jeff Jones, Trey Hiller, Tom Carrier,
Kay Zimmerman, Marge Spillman, David Sproul, Philip Lee,
Clarke Paquin, Frank Paltze, Marlo Meyer, Matt Meyer,
Madeline Myer.
The meeting was called to order at 5:59 pm on February 14, 2022, at Manton Volunteer Fire Dept. by Janet Jensen.
Recording of minutes approved, no objections.
II. Tom Twist, Shingletown Fire Safe Council: Tom Twist, opens that SFSC is one of the oldest fire safe councils in the state, and Shasta County, one of the original FSC. He has been involved in Shingletown Fire Safe Council since 2014. Tom spoke about the various programs that the Shingletown Council offers including a Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) which requires applicants who have failed the 4291 for Defensible Space to pass inspection with CalFire. He spoke about the new chipper that they recently bought and the large yard that they have for green waste. Tom mentioned that he is happy to be the liaison between the the Shingletown Fire Safe Council and the MFSC. Tom also talked about how their Defensible Space Program has 12 events per year, in cooperation with Shasta County, where residents (including Manton) can bring their green waste to their yard. He spoke about the SFSC having languished for several years and worked with a bigger council, the Lassen Fire Safe Council. He mentioned we should “hitch your wagon to bigger councils”. Tom talked about the WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) grant for $9 million dollars that they received that includes Wilson Hill Road, and that the project could stretch over 4 years. He said that private owners have been and will be contacted along Wilson Hill Rd. He also spoke about biomass and forest removal, and where it will go.
III. Amendment of Conflict of Interest to By-laws- Janet Jensen asked that members approve minutes from 1/20/22- Regina Bells moved, Ken Bell Second. Conflict of Interest amendment to Bylaws passed with no objections.
IV. Collaboration with Tehama CountyResource Conservation District- We have submitted an application with a Scope of Work to the TCRCD for start-up funds. Brin Greer from RCD has expressed an interest in using the Manton School students’ 2009 video production to produce an updated, professional video for Manton.
V. Brian Desmet and CalFire Representatives met with Board members on Jan. 31. 2022 to discuss FireWise Communities. We discussed the benefits and whether we, MFSC, should pursue becoming a FireWise community at this time. Joanne Paquin Sproul spoke about the reasoning to not pursue this at this time, as we have a lot to take care of now in getting our 501c3 together as well as the foundation of our Fire Safe Council. Tom Twist had also given information that the grants available to Firewise communities are very minimal (e.g. $500) and that the benefit of lower homeowner’s insurance is very low and very few insurance companies are yet on board for it. Also that the record keeping of hours and recertification every year is cumbersome. The MFSC asked CalFire members at this meeting what they thought the best route for us to take at this time is, and their response was “Shaded Fuel Breaks” and working with Resource Conservation District. We talked about how aligning our projects that are prioritized through the community survey should take precedence at this point.
VI. Treasurer’s Report- Renee Timmons reported that the December’s report has been amended as ending with $100 in the bank since the Board members who had donated money for various costs had all agreed that their payments were donations (except one for the 501c3 payment).
The MFSC account for January was:
$4,720 in donations.
$1,036.35 in expenses.
$3,783.64 in account.
Joanne Paquin Sproul said that she had received a quote from Farmer’s Insurance (Matt Iles in Palo Cedro), for Board members and event coverage for $1,486.99 per year. Coverage was approved with no objections.
VII. Survey: Janet Jensen reviewed the suggestions made by Bob Cords and Marion Rocksvold and added to by members from last meeting. These ideas had been rolled into the survey that was mailed out in February, and the MFSC put them on charts with sticker “dots” marking the mailed in, texted, emailed or called in answers that we have received so far. People in the audience were asked to put 3 stickers up for the projects that they felt were most important. This is the beginning of the survey that will be completed by March 13.
VIII. Committees- Elliott Proffitt led discussion about forming committees related to the major projects for the MFSC. His ideas from the community input include: *Identify water sources, to improve them and have evacuation plans; *Funding for major projects; *Workshops & Work parties; *Educational events; *Work on partnerships & working with more organizations. Elliott’s suggestion is that we try to get leadership for these projects. This first committee meeting will be Monday, Feb. 21, 6:00pm at the Fire Station. A hand-raise was called and several more community members signed up for working on committees.
IX. Chili and Cornbread Cook-off and Educational Workshop- Brin Greer from RCD will be helping with the Ice Cream Social. OES (Office of Emergency Services), CalFire, and the Fire Hawk Helicopter will be a part of the fundraiser. The Shasta County Educational Trailer will be on loan for the event. Discussion was made about the event being a family event with activities for kids, including kids being a part of the Chili and Cornbread Cookoff. Renee Timmons brought up that this should be one of committee groups when we meet on Monday.
X. Address Signage- Joanne Paquin Sproul researched offering reflective address signs to the community. The price of the signs prohibits it being a fundraiser but it will be a service offered to people who may need these. CalFire has said that reflective address signs “help to insure quick response, including fire and emergency.” Members agreed that this should be pursued. Heather Boone is further researching it.
XI. Open Discussion- Trey Hiller brought up that we need a relationship with Lassen Fire Safe Council, that they are so far above us in what they have to offer and we should partner with them. MFSC clarified that we are already working with them and have a Zoom meeting set up with them. Tom Twist re-iterated, “Do what you know, you can’t do what’s nice, or do what you think you ought to. Only do what you can do, do it well and when you develop a little bit, move on and grow”. We, the MFSC, agreed that this is what the TCRCD and CalFire have advised us. As discussion furthered about Shaded Fuel Breaks and Fire prevention, Trey Hiller said that we must remember that money is attached to certain things, that $120 million in Forest health Grant monies had been available for broad scale fuel breaks and “we just passed over a $120 million Fire Prevention grant” that was for evacuation routes and that we have to match resource to grants. The discussion turned to purchasing water tanks and that grants for tanks are not available. A member in the audience brought up that there could be other private, non-government grants available.There was further discussion about using goats and having Biomass chart and workshops. Tom Twist brought up that a “Home Ignition Zone” workshop about home hardening through Shasta County FSC will be coming up and that he will give us the dates.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:27p,m. Ken Bell moved and Regina Bell seconded.