Alfalfa Fire District Board Under Investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission
UPDATE: KTVZ News has obtained two preliminary review reports from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission concerning Nate Starr and Mark Laucks.
You can view the reports below:
UPDATE: The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to launch a formal investigation into current and former board members of the Alfalfa Fire District Board. It encompasses multiple violations of the state's public meetings law.
KTVZ News has learned Nate Starr, who recently resigned as board president; current acting board president Mark Laucks; and current board member Dustin Piggot are under investigation. Two previous board members who previously resigned are also named in the investigation.
In April, the commission launched an ethics investigation into former Fire Chief Chad LaValle on four separate counts of violations of Oregon ethics law, specifically violations tied to nepotism and misuse of office surrounding the hiring and supervision of his spouse.
Our reporting partners at the Prineville Review previously uncovered in their investigation LaValle's spouse was being paid using monies from multiple grants provided by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office.
In 2024 our investigative team was contacted by former staff members who claimed LaValle hired his wife without properly posting the position publicly.
During testimony to the commission on Friday, Nate Starr was the only individual who offered testimony in which he spent the majority of his allocated time being critical of the news media.
The Alfalfa Fire District has been the subject of significant controversy due to reporting by KTVZ News and our reporting partners at the Prineville Review; including revelations of numerous state investigations including election law violations, ethics issues, grant spending, nepotism and public meeting violations.
This is a developing story, Stay with the digital platforms of KTVZ News for urgent updates.
ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Two newly elected board members join the Alfalfa Fire District governing board as the agency faces continued public scrutiny over its leadership, finances and operations.
Residents submit grievances
During a board meeting Wednesday, community members submitted a 60-page grievance document detailing complaints and demanding operational changes within the district.
The grievances follow months of public concern surrounding management of the fire district and former Fire Chief Chad LaValle. Those concerns contributed to the failure of a fire district levy earlier this year, which voters rejected amid tax concerns and questions about nonessential services.
You can read the full letter below.
Requested operational changes
The 60-page complaint outlines several requested changes. The document calls for updated district policies prohibiting volunteer firefighters from serving on the governing board and seeks the sale of specific equipment, including a ladder truck, two ambulances and a motorized gurney.
It also requests that district apparatus not be stored offsite without formal contractual agreements and appropriate insurance coverage.
Concerns over board membership
Resident frustration has focused in part on board member Mark Laucks, whose position has drawn concerns because he is a volunteer firefighter.
Laucks addressed the document during Wednesday’s meeting.
“We will certainly give this a really thorough review and we will address these matters,” Laucks said. “We will come up with a plan to address these items individually.”
State raises reporting concerns
The fire district has also faced scrutiny from the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office over missing financial reporting. State officials sent a letter asking why annual reports had not been filed for three consecutive years and notified Deschutes County that it should initiate dissolution procedures as required.
The district later provided annual reports for 2022 and 2023, but documentation for 2024 and 2025 has not been provided.
In a statement on the filing delays, Deschutes County officials said that, to the best of their knowledge, the Secretary of State’s immediate concern about the district’s financial audit documents and untimely submissions was addressed by former Fire Chief LaValle.
Board review planned
Board members plan to review the grievance document and develop individual responses to the issues raised by residents.
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE:
