Switch fees upheld for OPUD fire service

The plan for a Yuba County subdivision to receive fire service from the Olivehurst Public Utility District has hit another snag, but this one probably won't change the final result.

Although the county's Local Agency Formation Commission rejected waiving $3,000 worth of fees to link the Summerfield subdivision with OPUD, the application for the formal linkage will still likely proceed, said district general manager Tim Shaw.

"The board went into this without the presumption of having the fees waived," Shaw said. "It would've been nice."

Detaching the Summerfield subdivision near Olivehurst from receiving emergency response service from Plumas-Brophy Fire District and then attaching it to the utility district will result in about $4,200 worth of fees OPUD will pay to the county, LAFCO and the state.

Under the argument of those fees being better spent for fire protection than government, OPUD's board of directors asked the commission to waive its $3,000 share.

But at a commission meeting earlier this week, LAFCO Executive Officer John Benoit said, the motion to issue a waiver failed on a 2-2 vote, with one commissioner absent.

"The concern they had is if they're going to waive fees for one, they're going to have to waive them for everyone," he said.

Commissioners Mary Jane Griego and Roger Abe voted in favor of the waiver, while Brent Hastey and Enita Elphick voted against.

Shaw said it's possible the district would ask again for hopes of a full commission voting, but will likely proceed with applying for the actual detachment in any event.

The utility district's next meeting is Thursday, while LAFCO is expected to meet again in January.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.