Anne Scarffe, Nederland. More than 25 attendees remotely accessed a regular meeting of the Nederland Fire Department Board on May 13, 2020, starting at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Four board members attended as well as Fire Chief Rick Dirr. 

After Chair Henry Zurbrugg called the meeting to order, the Board approved meeting minutes of March 4, 2020, and April 22, 2020. Newly voted in board members Todd Wieseler, Patrick Richardson and Iain Irwin-Powell received the Oath of Office.

During an election on May 5, four candidates ran for three seats on the Board open after Treasurer Nicholas Brodsky and Board member Joe Evans did not run again, and the seat for Beth Davis, who did run again. 

In addition to Davis, candidates were Todd Wieseler, Patrick Richardson and Iain Irwin-Powell. The May 6 Board of Directors Meeting was moved to May 13 to accommodate the election process. 

After their Oath of Office, the new Board then chose new officers: Iain Irwin-Powell as Chairman, Patrick Richardson as Vice Chairman, Todd Weiseler as Treasurer and Ray Willis as Secretary. Iain Irwin-Powell thanked the out going board, welcomed the new board, and the Chief. 

Irwin-Powell wants to make things better and serve Nederland, improve challenges with members and the board and is open to any suggestions for improvement.

Chief Dirr said the Department responded to 109 calls during April. Stations were cleaned, new shelving installed and equipment reorganized. The Department chose a new departmental rendezvous location by the Nederland Welcome sign, which is an easier location than at Barker Reservoir. 

Regarding progress on the Big Springs Egress, which was approved by Boulder County Commission, Dirr is contacting Nederland Public Works Manager Chris Pelletier with possible alternate routes through private property and a new switchback also possible for ease. Boulder County is updating evacuation procedures and radio equipment, and Forestry has two ten-person crews based out of Idaho Springs.   

As newly chosen Chairman, Iain Irwin-Powell started a spirited discussion on several issues. Reviewing current policies is a priority, including vacation accrual, the purchasing policy, junior fire-fighter program, volunteer recruitment and training and grants available for recruitment. 

The Board discussed grants that will be applied for soon. A new grant for fire mitigation has support from the board and will be researched. 

(Originally published in the May 21, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)