The Buena Vista board of trustees last Monday, then the Chaffee County Fire Protection District board of directors on the following Wednesday voted to approve an intergovernmental agreement between the two entities that makes CCFPD âthe exclusive jurisdiction having authority to interpret and enforce the fire code adopted by the town within the townâs boundaries.â
The IGA went into effect Thursday, CCFPD chief Robert Bertram said, meaning that the town has now divested from the Buena Vista Fire Department as a separate entity responding to fire calls.
âThe town has entertained this concept in the past. The time was not right. With the growth we are experiencing and to maintain the level of safety and service to the citizens of town we see this as a very viable option,â said Buena Vista Mayor Duff Lacy. âWe look forward to the combined efforts of Chaffee Fire and the Town to provide for the citizens of Buena Vista.â
The Buena Vista board of trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement between the town and Chaffee County Fire Protection District, which if approved by the CCFPD board at its meeting Wednesday evening, would make Chaffee Fire âthe exclusive jurisdiction having authority to interpret and enforce the fire code adopted by the town within the townâs boundaries.â
In other words, entering into the IGA with Chaffee Fire would mean that the Buena Vista Fire Department would cease to exist as a separate entity responding to fire calls.
The IGA was drafted during a months-long process based on deliberations by the fire authority steering committee, which first met in February.
Trustees will have their next regular meeting on May 10 rather than Buena Vistaâs usual second Tuesday of the month, when they are scheduled to discuss a potential new fire authority and a Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation grant proposal.
Also on the agenda: Buena Vista Mayor Duff Lacy will randomly select one of 20 applicants who completed phase 1 of the townâs retail marijuana license process.Â
The winner of the random drawing will move on to the second phase of the process, allowing them to open the second of two marijuana establishments permitted to operate in Buena Vista by an ordinance passed last year.
The Buena Vista board of trustees will have their next regular meeting on Monday, May 10, rather than their usual second Tuesday of the month, when they are scheduled to discuss a potential new fire authority and a Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation grant proposal.
Also on Mondayâs agenda: Buena Vista Mayor Duff Lacy will randomly select one of the 20 applicants that completed phase 1 of the townâs retail marijuana license process.
The winner of the random drawing will move on to phase 2 of the process, allowing them to open the second of two marijuana establishments permitted to operate in Buena Vista by an ordinance passed last year.
To help landowners create defensible space around their homes, Chaffee Chips will coordinate free neighborhood slash removal and chipping services in four geographic areas this year.
The countywide wildfire mitigation program reduces the threat of wildfire by helping homeowners remove potential fire fuels. Property owners in the service areas are asked to cut and clear brush and trees before the event and pile them at their curbs.Â
Last year, 185 homeowners created nearly 500 piles of wood slash that were chipped on-site or hauled to the county landfill by Chaffee County Fire Protection District firefighters. The 2021 service dates are:
⢠Game Trail west side on Aug. 27-29