Alfalfa, Ore. — Newly obtained text messages between former Alfalfa Fire District Chief Chad LaVallee and two Central Oregon Community College (COCC) officials reveal that LaVallee claimed the district was already interviewing prospective replacements for his position weeks before its governing board formally authorized advertising the job.
The communications also show LaVallee continued making decisions concerning district-owned equipment, vehicles and training facilities after his tenure ended June 30th, including authorizing the use of an ambulance later purchased by COCC for $15,000.
In another exchange, LaVallee expressed his intention to persuade the district’s next fire chief to pursue another property tax levy in November, despite voters overwhelmingly rejecting a similar funding measure in May.
The revelations come as Alfalfa Fire District Director Mark Laucks confirmed during the board’s October 14 meeting that he will resign effective at the conclusion of its regular November meeting. Director Dustin Piggott also announced his intention to resign in the near future, although he did not specify an effective date.
The resignation announcements add to a series of leadership changes within the district.
Meanwhile, newly obtained financial records confirm that COCC initiated a $16,875 wire payment through the GovDeals auction payment process on August 17th. However, no corresponding deposit has been identified in financial records released for the district’s three purported bank accounts, despite statements by Laucks that payment was received.
The district and LaVallee continue to face growing scrutiny over district finances, including recommendations from its attorney for a financial investigation into where money from a $165,000 FEMA grant and what should have been leftover funds from a nearly $300,000 Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) grant.
According to numerous critics and a current budget committee member, about $160,000 from the OSFM grant should remain but is missing, and the bank account used to store the funds is empty.
The district recently released the first set of bank records late last month.
The developments also expand on earlier reporting by the Prineville Review, which raised questions about the ambulance’s auction, the handling of public assets and LaVallee’s continued involvement with the district following his departure.
LaVallee claimed chief interviews were underway weeks before board approval
Among the most significant revelations is a June 24th text exchange between LaVallee and Ryan Gregor, COCC’s Fire Science Program Director and Assistant Professor I.
Gregor asked LaVallee how things were going at Alfalfa Fire District.
LaVallee responded:
“They are going well. Interviewing potential Chiefs, and things are looking good for now.”
Gregor replied that he was glad to hear the district had applicants.
“Three is better than nothing.” LaVallee texted back.
The statements came during LaVallee’s final week as chief and approximately three weeks before the district’s board formally adopted revised language authorizing recruitment for the position on July 15th.
The timing is particularly significant because an earlier advertisement for the chief position had already been published without formal board authorization. Several board members subsequently claimed they were unaware of the posting, while Laucks made conflicting statements concerning his knowledge of the recruitment process.
That earlier posting closed on July 15th — the same day the board voted to adopt a revised recruitment announcement.
Despite that action, the district has yet to formally repost the position under the newly approved language, notwithstanding additional statements from Laucks concerning the recruitment process.
The board recently appeared to put the formal hiring of a new chief on hold amid mounting concerns over financial irregularities, including the handling of approximately $165,000 in FEMA grant funds and several hundred thousand dollars from the OSFM grant funding. A portion of the OSFM funds was used to compensate LaVallee’s wife, who resigned earlier this year.
LaVallee is also the subject of a formal investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) involving four alleged violations of state ethics laws, including nepotism, misuse of public office, and conflict-of-interest provisions. OGEC had voted to proceed with a formal investigation in early May. The results of that investigation are anticipated to be heard before the end of the year.
A separate and less extensive ethics complaint, filed by this reporter of LaVallee’s alleged use of district resources and claimed hiring of a private investigator, did not proceed to a formal investigation following its preliminary review.
The June 24th messages raise questions about how recruitment was being conducted before the board’s authorization, who was responsible for identifying and interviewing candidates, and whether LaVallee or other district officials were independently directing the process.
The disclosures also provide new context to questions raised during subsequent board meetings about the district’s recruitment process.
During the board’s August 12th meeting, Laucks reported that four individuals had applied for the position, despite the controversy surrounding the earlier advertisement.
District legal counsel Jered Reid subsequently recommended establishing a formal interview process that would allow the governing board and public to observe prospective candidates.
LaVallee discussed pushing another levy despite overwhelming voter rejection
The messages also reveal that LaVallee was considering efforts to persuade his successor to pursue another property tax levy, despite the district’s previous funding proposal being overwhelmingly defeated by voters.
During a June 30th conversation, Gregor and LaVallee discussed the district’s financial challenges following the failed May levy.
Gregor acknowledged that the district’s ability to continue operations was limited without additional funding.
LaVallee responded:
“True. But I think I might try to convince the new Chief to go for another levy in Nov to pay for at least one position.”
The statement came approximately six weeks after voters rejected the district’s May levy.
The proposal had sought additional property tax revenue to support district operations, but nearly four out of five voters opposed it.
LaVallee’s comments suggest that, even as he prepared to leave his position, he intended to remain involved in discussions about the district’s future funding strategy and potentially influence the priorities of his replacement.
The messages do not establish that another levy was formally proposed or approved by the board.
In the same conversation, LaVallee also expressed interest in remaining with the district in an operational leadership capacity.
“If we dont move I am going to ask to stay on as an ops Chief,” he wrote.
When Gregor asked whether that would be a volunteer position, LaVallee confirmed it would.
“My big thing is I dont want to see this place go under. I want to see it thrive,” LaVallee wrote.
LaVallee was subsequently identified as the district’s training director following his departure as the district’s paid chief, an appointment reportedly made by Laucks without any authorization from the rest of the board.
District policy documents specifically limit the positions and roles volunteers can hold, which do not include an operations chief or training director.
The district and its officials, including LaVallee, have been under another investigation launched in April by the Oregon Secretary of State for alleged election law violations, which the Crook & Deschutes County Clerks reported after voters raised concerns.
LaVallee’s continued role and training director assignment
During last week’s meeting, Laucks again provided conflicting information in response to public questions, claiming that LaVallee’s appointment as training director had been put on hold.
The statement appeared to walk back his earlier representations that LaVallee had already been appointed to the position, raising further questions about the former chief’s current role and whether the appointment was ever formally authorized by the board.
During the September board meeting, Laucks alluded to an impending resignation by LaVallee that he said had not yet been formalized.
Near the conclusion of that meeting, however, LaVallee himself stated that he was no longer affiliated with the Alfalfa Fire District in any capacity. Shortly after making that statement, he was observed walking into a secured, nonpublic office area of the district facility.
Earlier in the meeting, LaVallee, who was initially attending remotely, interrupted a member of the public during his comments and called him an “asshole.” LaVallee then immediately disconnected from the virtual meeting and arrived at the district facility in person minutes later, where he continued the verbal confrontation with the same individual and continued interrupting public comment.
Laucks confirms resignation as another director signals departure
Additional changes to the Alfalfa Fire District’s governing board are expected as early as next month.
During the board’s October 14th regular meeting, Laucks confirmed that he intends to resign, with his departure becoming effective at the conclusion of the district’s regular November board meeting.
Director Dustin Piggott also stated that he intends to resign, although the effective date of his anticipated departure has not been established.
The announcements follow earlier resignations and appointments that have repeatedly changed the composition of the district’s five-member governing board.
The latest developments could result in all five board positions appearing on the May 2027 special district election ballot, including seats requiring elections to complete unexpired terms and seats scheduled for regular four-year terms.
Two seats, including the position currently held by Director Carolyn Chase, are scheduled for regular elections in 2027. The remaining three positions have terms extending through 2029.
Depending on the timing and formal handling of the anticipated vacancies, the 2027 election could therefore include three elections to fill the remaining two years of unexpired terms, alongside two elections for full four-year terms.
The developments could give district electors an opportunity to select representatives for every position on the board, although the final ballot configuration will depend on the vacancies and applicable election requirements.
Laucks’ planned departure is particularly significant given his role in the district’s handling of the chief recruitment process, its financial matters and the ambulance sale.
Former chief discussed $15,000 ambulance sale before board authorization
The June 24th messages also establish that LaVallee was discussing the proposed sale of the district’s ambulance with COCC officials before the governing board formally approved disposing of the vehicle.
In the same conversation with Gregor, LaVallee said he needed to contact Michael Greene, COCC’s Program Director and Assistant Professor II, EMS, about the ambulance.
“We need to surplus our spare medic. We lost a tender on that fire last week. Blew the head gaskets,” LaVallee wrote.
Gregor responded that the college had included funding for an ambulance in a grant application but might prefer purchasing a used vehicle rather than a new one.
LaVallee replied that the district was asking $15,000.
Later that morning, LaVallee contacted Greene directly, according to records obtained from COCC.
“Hey Michael, I wanted to reach out as we are going to surplus the medic unit you guys were using,” LaVallee wrote.
He explained that the vehicle was being offered to help cover the district’s tender repair costs.
“We are asking 15k for it and I am having our electrician go through the charging system today. Just wanted to see if there was any interest from the college before it goes to auction.”
Greene immediately expressed interest, saying he would work with college officials on the potential purchase.
When Greene asked how quickly the sale needed to happen, LaVallee acknowledged that board approval was still necessary.
“The surplus has to get approved by the board which I think they may do next tues. Not a huge hurry but if the college is interested I would prefer it go to you guys first.”
COCC ultimately purchased the ambulance through an August GovDeals auction as the sole bidder, for the same $15,000 price.
The auction followed concerns raised by residents during early July board meetings over the proposed sale process being advanced by Laucks. The board initially approved a resolution authorizing a direct sale to COCC, but that approach was subsequently withdrawn after questions arose about its legality, as COCC was not a fire agency eligible for a direct transfer under Oregon law.
On July 15th, the board instead moved toward requiring a public auction following those concerns. However, previous reporting by the Prineville Review raised additional questions after public records obtained from COCC indicated the college appeared to be proceeding with arrangements to purchase the ambulance despite being informed of the change.
Those records included a purchase order signed just days after a July 20th message from Laucks, raising questions about why the college continued advancing the purchase before the vehicle had been offered through a competitive public auction.
The Prineville Review previously reported that the auction listing omitted significant vehicle information, including its mileage, and did not identify the vehicle as an ambulance.
LaVallee continued authorizing use of district assets after departure
The text messages also document an informal arrangement under which COCC was permitted to use the ambulance for training before purchasing it.
On April 22nd, Greene asked LaVallee whether the ambulance could be made available for a transport class.
“Yes Sir. We will get it over,” LaVallee replied.
Minutes later, he confirmed that district personnel were already delivering the ambulance to the college.
On May 27th, Gregor separately asked whether the ambulance could be used for medical training exercises, without equipment, so students could practice loading patients.
LaVallee approved that request as well.
More significantly, the arrangement continued after LaVallee ceased being chief.
On July 8th, Greene asked whether he could borrow the ambulance the following Friday to show it to COCC’s incoming dean.
LaVallee responded, “Absolutely.”
The next day, Greene asked whether LaVallee wanted to meet him or leave a key. LaVallee offered to leave the key inside the district facility and provided instructions for obtaining it and preparing the ambulance.
These exchanges occurred eight and nine days after LaVallee was no longer chief.
On July 15th, Greene advised LaVallee that the ambulance was still in Bend and that the district’s board resolution authorized Laucks to complete the sale.
LaVallee provided Laucks’ contact information.
The records do not establish whether LaVallee had received independent authorization to continue permitting use of the district-owned ambulance following his departure.
Separate messages with Gregor also show LaVallee continuing to coordinate access to the district’s training facility and equipment in July and August.
On July 14th, LaVallee authorized Gregor to move a district fire apparatus to access equipment and provided instructions for securing the training facility afterward.
On August 4th, LaVallee confirmed that previously arranged training activities could proceed.
In another exchange on August 11th, he provided instructions for conducting training burns while he was away on a wildfire assignment.
The communications raise broader questions about the scope of LaVallee’s authority following his departure and what oversight the board exercised over district equipment and facilities.
COCC confirms $16,875 payment, but district bank records show no corresponding deposit
New financial documents obtained from COCC confirm that the college initiated an outgoing wire transfer for $16,875 on August 17th.
The amount included the $15,000 ambulance purchase price and an additional $1,875 buyer’s premium.
A U.S. Bank transaction record identifies the transfer as a customer-initiated outgoing wire from COCC’s institutional and federal funds account.
The funds were directed to Flywire Global Corp., the payment processor identified in the GovDeals-related payment instructions, using a matching transaction reference.
The records did confirm COCC initiated payment through the auction payment process, a question asked as part of our reporting last week.
The question now, however, is where the money actually went. A review of the district’s 2026 bank records through the end of September found no identifiable deposit corresponding to the ambulance sale, despite records confirming that COCC initiated payment and statements by Laucks that the district received the funds.
Laucks has previously represented that the district received payment.
Questions remain as district prepares for further leadership changes
The newly released communications provide a more detailed picture of LaVallee’s involvement in district operations during his final days as chief and in the weeks following his departure.
They document that LaVallee claimed interviews for his replacement were already underway before the board formally approved recruitment, that he privately offered a district ambulance to COCC at a predetermined price before the board approved its sale, and that he continued authorizing use of public equipment after leaving office.
They also reveal his stated intention to encourage another property tax levy despite the overwhelming defeat of the district’s previous proposal.
The college’s financial records establish an outgoing payment that remains unaccounted for in the district bank statements reviewed by the Prineville Review.
Those questions now coincide with Laucks’ announced resignation and Piggott’s stated intention to leave the board, potentially requiring the district to fill additional vacancies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Laucks’ volunteer stipend proposals raise new conflict-of-interest questions
During the October 14th meeting, Laucks again proposed providing stipends to district volunteer firefighters, a proposal he also previously raised during an earlier meeting. Laucks himself serves as a volunteer firefighter, but did not publicly declare a potential or actual conflict of interest under ORS Chapter 244 at either meeting, despite proposing payments that could potentially benefit him.
Under ORS 244.120(2), governing board members are required to publicly disclose potential or actual conflicts of interest, subject to statutory exceptions. Whether Laucks’ stipend proposals constituted a conflict depends on the proposed payments and his eligibility to receive them.
Actual conflicts often require the official to recuse themselves from any discussion or voting on such matters, while potential conflicts may provide exceptions, so long as the potential conflict is publicly announced.
The board also revisited concerns over directors simultaneously serving as firefighters and discussed adopting an ordinance to prohibit the arrangement.
Residents and other board members have questioned the practice, particularly under former Chief Chad LaVallee, when Laucks and former board president Nathan Starr served as firefighters reporting to LaVallee while also overseeing him as members of the governing board. They also have argued that the arrangement created conflicting lines of authority and contributed to the district’s accountability problems.
Recently appointed Director Bob Kathman previously attempted to adopt a similar ordinance during an earlier term on the board but lacked sufficient support.
Discussions during the October meeting suggested broader support among current directors after Kathman indicated he likely intended to renew his call for such an ordinance.
Kathman was also appointed board president during the October 14th meeting and will primarily chair future meetings.
Dozens of community members praised Kathman who presided over the board’s September 9th meeting after Laucks was absent. Several community members told the Prineville Review that they felt heard and that the meeting was not confrontational.
For our full review of reporting on the Alfalfa Fire District as part of our series on the agency, click here.
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Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
