Former Morongo Valley Fire Captain Ryan McEachen announced as new Interim Fire Chief at MVCSD meeting
Last night, the Morongo Valley Community Services District Board of Directors held their regular 6 PM meeting in Covington Park’s multipurpose room.
Beginning with director reports, General Manager Brittany Chavez announced former MV Fire Captain Ryan McEachen taking over as interim Fire Chief in the wake of James Brakebill’s retirement last week. For action items, updates were made to the Schedule of Fees, including the decision to waive emergency fees for low-income residents upon their application for waiver; conversely, a motion was made to take all outstanding emergency fees from non-residents, including tourists staying at vacation rentals, to a collection agency.
The Board voted 5/0 to approve Resolution 24-03, which approves assessment fee and orders the levy and collection of annual assessments within the Morongo Valley Fire Suppression Assessment service area for the fiscal year of 2024-25. The Board updated the Memorandum of Understanding negotiation team by removing Brakebill and adding interim fire chief McEachen. Brakebill was also officially removed from the district petty cash account. With the district still in their spending freeze, a bill to repair a sensor from the department’s fire engine was approved for $745. After two board members urged that the fire department pay rate remain competitive with other districts, the 2024-25 Preliminary Budget was narrowly passed at 3/2.
