FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2026


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News from April 28 Board of Supervisors Meeting


EMS NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING


Health and Human Services Director Anna Scott had good news to report to the Board of Supervisors regarding the effort to find an ambulance provider for the Bishop area.


Inyo County, in coordination with the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA), issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) earlier this year to solicit responses from firms interested in providing 9-1-1 ground emergency medical transportation in what is known as Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) 1. Scott told the Board that a qualified proposal is now under consideration.


"We’ve spent the last couple of weeks engaging our partners with the City of Bishop and the Bishop Paiute Tribe in reviewing the proposal," Scott said. "We’ll be moving forward, we hope, with contract negotiations soon."


Per the terms of the RFP, the successful firm will be granted a contract for exclusive operating rights for services within the EOA 1 area for an initial period of five years with a total possible term of eleven years. The start date for service will be negotiated with the awarded proposer, with a commencement date no later than September 1, 2026.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE


The Board of Supervisors’ chambers were near capacity on Tuesday thanks to visits from the Owens Valley High School junior and senior classes and the Lone Pine High School senior class.


The students were there to watch first-hand how their local government works. The Board, for its part, was happy to have the youth in attendance.


"It’s an honor to have you here," Chairperson Trina Orrill told the contingent.

PET ADOPTION ENCOURAGED


The students weren’t the only special guests in attendance on Tuesday. Inyo County Animal Services staff brought another canine from the shelter to greet the Board as part of the new Pet Adoption Spotlights aimed at finding forever-homes for shelter inhabitants.


This week’s star was Riley, a 6-year-old mixed breed that has been at the Big Pine facility since November. Animal Services Supervisor Katie Bird described Riley as a “volunteer favorite” and a good puppy with plenty of energy.


"She’s a great dog – the perfect size if you want an active hiking buddy or walking buddy," Bird said. "She’s really sweet and gets along with other dogs. I don’t know if she’ll show it to you today, but she does do the little smile thing … she’s quite a character."


Like a lot of the animals at the shelter, Riley was owner-surrendered. Bird noted that the shelter is experiencing a relatively low population – with about 10 dogs, seven cats, and one rabbit in residence – but 11 more animals are expected to arrive next week. Anyone interested in adopting a new family member is encouraged to stop by the Inyo County Animal Shelter Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.


There will also be an opportunity to meet adoptable dogs at an event being held from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, May 2 at the K-9 Wellness Center, 1650 N. Sierra Highway, Bishop.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH ACTIVITIES


Health and Human Services Director Anna Scott updated the Board on recent and upcoming events commemorating Child Abuse Prevention Month – a time to raise awareness, strengthen families, and reaffirm the community’s shared responsibility to ensure that all children grow up in safe, stable, and nurturing environments.


Scott described another successful memorial flag-raising honoring children who lost their lives due to child abuse. The well-attended event was held in both Bishop and Tecopa on April 24.


She also noted that HHS would be partnering with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Inyo County Office of Education to present the Resilience Symposium 2026 on Wednesday at the Tri-County Fairgrounds. The all-day affair was free to the public and included a morning workshop titled “Life in Limbo” and an afternoon panel discussion on “Shifting from Reporting Families to Supporting Families."


HHS will next be observing Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNIZED


Twenty-two Inyo and Mono county employees from a variety of departments were honored on Tuesday for completing a recent professional development course offered by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) William “Bill” Chiat Institute for Excellence in County Government.


This is the second time that the institute has been brought to Inyo County for the benefit of senior executives and staff. It was founded in 2008 to meet the demands of county supervisors and senior executives with few accessible opportunities for professional continuing education.


The leadership academy ran from April to October and included 10 different courses on topics ranging from personality and leadership and leading change in public sector organizations, to developing organizational strategies and connecting with colleagues and subordinates. Classes featured hands-on activities, discussions, case studies, simulations, and projects designed around adult learning experiences.


CSAC Chief Operating Officer Paul Danczyk was in attendance Tuesday to present institute credentials to the graduates. "I want to thank you for your leadership in bringing the institute to Inyo County," he said. "The professional development space is really intense. The institute itself is 50 instructional hours … When folks go through the program, we recognize they’re also holding down the fort and doing their job as well, and recognize that they’re able to do that while they’re still going through the training itself, which is remarkable."


He continued, telling the Board, "You have an outstanding group of folks that you’re surrounded by that make the county governance work within Inyo."


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