In This Issue:

Our Fire Chief, Rick Ansel is retiring on September 4, 2026. We begin by thanking him for his many years of service as our volunteer Fire Chief. In order to keep the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department operating, we need to find a replacement by September 4. The Temporary Advisory Committee (TAC) consisting of President Mitarotonda and Vice President Epstein is pursuing two parallel paths. In either path, property tax income will be used to fund a paid, possibly part-time position.

The TAC has resumed conversations with Eastern Alpine Fire and Rescue to see if we could contract for fire chief services and build from their existing staff and training capabilities.

The TAC is also pursuing options to identify possible fire professionals for a consulting agreement to serve as the Fire Chief.

Either option will allow the KVFD to continue operating but it does not address the core problem - there are not enough trained, local volunteers to cover all shifts. As a result there will continue to be times - especially on summer weekends when KVFD will be unable to respond to calls. When KVFD is unavailable, emergency calls are covered by Alpine or Amador county crews. This situation, which has existed for many years, continues to be a major, unresolved problem.

Brandi Benson has been promoted to the KMPUD General Manager position, starting in September.  She has lived “in valley” in Kirkwood for over 20 years and steps up to the GM position after nine years as Operations Manager, where she has earned the respect and confidence of employees and board members. Brandi sat for this interview with KMPUD board member Chris Tucher.

Q: Brandi grew up in Mississippi. How did you find your way to Kirkwood on the other side of the continent?  From the Delta to the Sierras, was it as unlikely a move as it seems?

A. I moved to Kirkwood on a whim, as a way to spend a semester off between college and grad school and have a little adventure before I went back and settled into a career.  When you grow up in Mississippi, you hear a lot of people talk about being in God’s country, but I never felt that way about any place until I came to Kirkwood.  I got here in January 2005, during a break between the two biggest storms of the season, and it snowed 10 feet my first three days.  I had never seen snow before and never even imagined that a place like this could exist, but something about it got to me. When it came time to leave in the spring, I couldn’t do it.

So, I stayed.  And I still have the same feeling about Kirkwood – a near disbelief that this place exists, and that I get to live here and be part of it.  A lot of that is the people that are here because they love it just as much as I do.  Another part is KMPUD itself.  The fact that we run so much critical infrastructure, with so few people, in such a challenging location, is incredible and fascinating and never, ever boring.  The skiing is pretty good too.

Q: It will be new for KMPUD to have a GM living here in Kirkwood.  Does living “in-valley” give you a different/special perspective?

A. I think so.  Not only the GM position, but all of our employees who live here have a special perspective.  Maybe the most important thing is that the decisions and operations of the KMPUD affect those of us who live here directly – KMPUD’s utility rates are our utility rates, if there was a fire, KVFD would be the first to respond, and whether or not we can drive to work during a snowstorm depends on our snow removal.

Living in-valley also gives me the ability to be here, by default, when things happen.  It can be daunting to face an emergency on one of the utility systems if you are the only staff member here in valley, knowing that your back up is at least 45 minutes away.  Being here and showing up is really important to me.

Q: KMPUD board feels fortunate to be able to hire from within. You’ve been Operations Manager for 9 years. How do you assess the state of operations (or staff and systems and infrastructure) as you now take the helm?

A. Our operations staff, right now, is the best it has in a long time.  We have a fully-staffed, dedicated crew, half of whom live in Kirkwood full-time.  As far as infrastructure goes, it is a mixed bag.  The electric transmission system, for example, is less than 15 years old and in good shape.  On the other hand, some of the water and wastewater pipelines are nearing the end of their useful life.  This will be a focus and a challenge for our staff going forward since older infrastructure requires more maintenance and repair.

Q:  Looking forward, what goals, priorities, hopes ...

A. One of my goals is to keep utility rates stable, and in the case of electric, continuing to pay down debt so that we can lower rates over time.  This will be challenging with operating costs rising and regulatory requirements increasing on all of our utilities, but if we are able to simplify our operations, focus on critical maintenance and required improvements, I am hopeful that we can continue to offer safe, reliable services at reasonable rates.

Another thing I’d like to focus on is increasing staff tenure.  Keeping good people around, with the difficulty of finding affordable housing in Kirkwood or commuting long distances, has always been a challenge, and I hope we can make some improvements there. 

I’m also looking forward to strengthening KMPUD’s relationships with the community and with the resort.  Because at the end of the day, we are all here together, and we all want Kirkwood to be the best it can be. 

This summer, District staff will perform smoke testing in some areas of the wastewater collection system.   Smoke testing is used to identify improper connections, damaged pipes or other areas where groundwater and snow melt are entering the collection system.  During smoke testing, Operators blow smoke into the system through a manhole and monitor where smoke escapes the system.  The smoke is non-toxic, has a distinct, but not unpleasant, odor and is light gray to white in color. 

A notice will be sent to customers in affected areas prior to testing.  Smoke should not enter your home unless there is a dry trap or unused plumbing fixture.  If smoke enters your home or if you have questions about this project, please call the District at (209) 258-4444.

Help us keep Kirkwood clean and safe! Please review the list below for guidance on what can and cannot be disposed of in community dumpsters.

Your cooperation ensures that we comply with waste disposal regulations and protect our environment. 

Thank you for doing your part!

If you have irrigation services at your Kirkwood home, please wait to schedule window washing or other applicable outdoor projects until KMPUD has notified the community that irrigation systems have been activated for the season, which is typically in June. KMPUD does not offer on-demand activation of irrigation systems. The timing of activation is determined by KMPUD based on weather conditions and staff availability. Please plan accordingly and stay tuned for more information as we get closer. Thank you for your patience.

Green Waste Container Available on Loop Road

Residents can now dispose of green waste near the dumpster pad on Loop Road.

Accepted Items

Tree Limbs, Branches, Shrubs, and other small vegetation.

Not Accepted

Trash, Non-vegetative items, stumps, contributions or debris from tree removal contractors.

Please use the designated green waste container for appropriate materials only. Do not leave piles of debris outside of the container or in other trash bins. The green waste container will be available throughout the summer and fall. If you have any questions, please contact the District office. 

 

Wildfire experts are predicting a higher than normal wildfire season this summer.  Now that the snow around your Kirkwood homes and buildings is gone, Kirkwood Firewise says it’s time to start working on your properties to make them safer from wildfires, especially the first five feet around your homes, Zone 0.

To help with disposal of what you pick up and trim away, the KMPUD will be providing ‘Green Waste Bins’ for combustible materials (acceptable items include: tree limbs, branches, shrubs, pine needles, and other small vegetation). Amador and Alpine County will be providing a free chipping program to homeowners in July and later this summer. You must register your chip piles with Kirkwood Firewise. Sign up HERE

Kirkwood Firewise also wants to remind you to record your time and/or dollars spent on defensible space work. They need over 796 volunteer hours to maintain the Firewise certification.

Did You Know?

The District offers an Events Calendar to help the community easily access meeting dates and important event information all in one convenient place. 

You'll find details for Board and Committee Meetings, as well as other key community events.

Just click on any scheduled item to view expanded details, including instructions on how to participate in or watch the meetings.

 

The KMPUD board in its May meeting — in addition to selecting Brandi Benson as new GM and working on the future of the fire department (KVFD), described above — focused on the following: 

1. Electric rates — We presented the proposed new electric rates to take effect in July: a lower per-KWH usage rate of $0.21 (current is $0.24) and a new approach to setting residential base rates that is no longer tied to past usage levels.  You can read the full electric rate study and view the summary presentation in the board packet HERE. 

2. Budget 2027 — Budget planning for 2027 fiscal year, which starts in July, both operating and capital budget. You can review the budget documents in the board packet HERE.

Kirkwood is your District and your input and participation are valuable. Click here to view the Community Calendar of upcoming Board and Committee meetings. We encourage your participation at our meetings. Click here to learn about the agenda and click here to access past Board of Directors meetings. 

Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District

209-258-4444 / info@kmpud.com / www.kmpud.com