Two separate donations from Chevron North America to Eddy County should enhance future operations for Eddy County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) and the Office of Emergency Management.
Chevron wrote a $15,000 check to the Office of Emergency Management and a $50,000 to ECFR, said Eddy County Manager Allen Davis.
Beverly Allen, Chevron’s government, and public affairs representative said the Office of Emergency Management planned to buy new automated external defibrillators (AED’s) and ECFR’s funds could be used for firefighting supplies and resources.
More:Eddy County shares emergency equipment donation from Permian Basin groups
“We can’t operate without them,” she said of Eddy County’s emergency resources. “We need them to take care of us here in the community and we need them out in the (oil) patch.”
Steven Cope, Chevron’s health and safety director for the Permian and Delaware Basins, said community commitment and involvement was key for the oil and gas company based in San Ramon, California.
“The more we can give back it is better for us and community relations and for Carlsbad and Eddy County overall,” he said.
Allen and Cope presented both the money during the Nov. 2 Eddy County Board of County Commissioners meeting.
“We appreciate you and what industry does. We’re staunch supporters and advocates as best as we can. We want to continue to build and strengthen the relationships that we have. Thank you very much,” said Davis.
ECFR Chief Joshua Mack said the donation was unexpected.
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“We are thankful for it,” he said. “It’s greatly appreciated on our behalf. It’s just another way to show the partnership we’ve established with Chevron.”
Mack said donations from oil companies like Chevron enhance ECFR’s work. The donations allow Eddy County to use money from the 60 percent fire excise tax fund or other government sources for different projects.
“It helps us to manage and maintain our fund balance for the future. It all adds up. Every little bit that we can keep in our excise account to maintain and plan for the future is always a plus,” he said.
Mack said the donations help with “one-time” projects for ECFR.
“(That) we may have on our radar that benefit our response to the industry and to the community,” he said.
More:Energy companies contribute $6M to Carlsbad and Eddy County infrastructure
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at [email protected] or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
