Counties plan ‘firewise’ community workshop
Meeting geared to help communities be more prepared
As the winter fire season approaches, Inyo and Mono County residents are invited to a Wildfire Preparedness Workshop on Dec. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at C5 Studios, 210 S. Warren St. in Bishop.
This event is an opportunity for residents to take control of their safety and protect what matters most, according to organizers.
Anyone who has ever wished their neighbor would take wildfire preparation more seriously and who is concerned about the potential consequences of an unprepared community will benefit from the workshop’s deep dive into the Firewise program. Attendees will not only learn the essentials of wildfire readiness but discover effective ways to engage their neighbors and bolster community resilience.
The workshop will also provide attendees with actionable insights that could make their property more insurable. Learn how to safeguard your investment and gain peace of mind as we navigate the challenges of the winter fire season together.
New Bishop Fire Chief Bret Russell will be in attendance to help residents connect with a key figure in local firefighting, have important questions answered, and understand the strategies being implemented to keep our community safe.
Organizers are also urging residents to join them as shine a light on the Bishop Paiute Tribe, exploring their programs and services related to community safety and emergency preparedness. Learn about their unique concerns and how collaboration can strengthen the entire community.
Residents are also being offered the chance to help shape the future of the community’s wildfire preparedness levels by taking a survey for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, led by
Inyo County Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler and Rick Kattelmann of the Whitebark Institute.
Children are also welcome to attend. Heidi Porras from the Whitebark Institute will lead an exciting and educational session while their parents participate in the workshop.
begins recruiting for a permanent chief financial officer. Under his new threeyear contract, the veteran health care executive will receive annual compensation totaling $400,000 per year with the same benefits as all district employees. The contract also calls for awarding DelRossi three months’ compensation if the district severs ties without cause, a standard clause in most health care CEO agreements.
DelRossi has served the District for 15 months, first as chief financial officer, alerting the district to what would have been its impending bankruptcy. He then took on the dual roles when named interim CEO last June. In that time, DelRossi led the district’s executive team, its directors and managers, physicians, and employees on a mission to “right-size” the district.
The journey has been challenging, requiring a tightening of expenses, reductions in the workforce, and finding ways to increase patient volumes. DelRossi has also rebuilt a broken revenue cycle. Where bankruptcy once was imminent, DelRossi now feels the district is on more secure ground.
Board Chair Mary Mae Kilpatrick lauds DelRossi for leading the NIHD team during these trying times.
“The board is certainly delighted with the progress under Stephen,” Kilpatrick said. “Each month, it feels like we are taking another step in the right direction, assuring longevity with thoughtful, tempered growth within some of our service lines. With the support of our employees, physicians, and most importantly, our community, I think we all see NIHD living to fight another day.”
Kilpatrick admits there is still work ahead.
“When I think back to where we were a year ago and where we could have ended up, I shudder,” Kilpatrick says. “Our communities need this health care facility. There is a reason why our community fought so hard to establish this district in 1946. They knew then how important rural health care would be to our future and to us. We must keep working towards a better tomorrow and serving our patients well. It’s really that simple.”