Wildfire plan on county agenda

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Monday on awarding a bid to plan for wildfires.

The move could put local emergency responders in a better position to receive grants, said the county administrator.

County Administrator Robert Pickels said developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, geared toward municipal fire and emergency services, will put them in a better position for grants.

"Having the plan in place allows those entities to draw down grants," Pickels said. "When they're competing against other counties that have a wildfire protection plan, it makes them less competitive."

If the board approves the plan, and awards the bid to Anchor Point Group LLC to develop the plan, the emergency responders will be more competitive, he said.

The plan began almost three years ago with a presentation to the board, Pickels said. "It's been a long time in development."

The board will meet at 9 a.m. Monday at 198 S. Main St. in Yuma. The meeting is open to the public.

The board is also expected to vote whether to adopt a resolution establishing a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, delegating to the Yuma County Attorney and the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

The board is also expected to vote to consider an initiative to amend the Yuma County Subdivision Regulations to provide for review of tentative maps with deficiencies.

Pickels said the move would help developers proceed with subdivision development where there are some deficiencies in the plans that they present.

"The developers love this because it's going to allow them to move forward with their projects," he said.

The board is expected to vote to set a date for a public hearing at 9 a.m. Nov. 16 regarding the proposed amendment. The board will accept public comment and take action on the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission.