The Sandoval County Commission has approved the renaming of the countys newest fire station in honor of former Fire Chief Jon Tibbetts.

A renaming ceremony will take place at 2:00 pm, July 22, 2013 at the station, which is located just north of the intersection of NM 528 and NM 550 on the Santa Ana Pueblo. Officials from both Sandoval County and Santa Ana Pueblo have committed to speak at the event.

The station, currently known as Sandoval County Fire Station 21, opened in March 2012, largely through the efforts of Chief Tibbetts, who spearheaded the drive to raise funds for the $2.7-million, state-of-the-art-facility.

Chief Tibbetts died in a car accident barely three months after Station 21 opened. A special facility naming committee recommended renaming the station in honor of Chief Tibbetts. The County Commission unanimously accepted that recommendation at its June 6, 2013 meeting.

Both the facility naming committee and the commission had to determine that naming the station in Tibbetts honor complied with the countys Facilities Naming Policy. That policy says a person being memorialized must have made a significant impact and contribution to the community or on the countys mission and purpose.

Santa Ana Pueblo officials also approved renaming the station.

“Chief Tibbetts, both through his work leading the Sandoval County Fire Department, and through the charitable work he did in the community, clearly met the criteria for having a building named in his honor, said current County Fire Chief James Maxon. Thats why, as a department, we sought permission to honor Chief Tibbetts in this fashion. Having his name on this station will be a constant reminder of all the good work he did for the citizens of Sandoval County.