A fifth board member is coming to the CalTahoe Joint Powers Authority board – a rep from Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department.

The JPA operates the ambulance service on the South Shore. It has been functioning as a four-member board with two people from South Lake Tahoe and two from Lake Valley. This has not been a productive way to do business.

The board agreed to have Fallen Leaf join the ranks. Fallen Leaf’s interest is to have better ambulance response time, according to Chief Gary Gerren. Membership means an ambulance will be at the station at the west end of the lake on a seasonal basis.

The JPA will supply the ambulance, Fallen Leaf will provide the paramedics. Fallen Leaf is not paying into the JPA.

North Tahoe Fire Protection District joined the JPA in fall 2016, but that was short lived. That department folded into Meeks Bay a couple years ago, so it’s boundaries are from the West Shore to Kings Beach. Meeks Bay had been a member in the past as well.

Barton Health is still in talks to be a member of the JPA.

As new agencies come on board, it’s possible the representation from South Tahoe and Lake Valley could change, too.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report