Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Gilpin County. The regular meeting of the Timberline Fire Protection District was called to order by President Smith at 7 p.m. on December 12, 2019, at Station #7, 660 Highway 46 in Black Hawk. Following the pledge of allegiance, Smith asked for Ken Jones, Summit County Firefighter and close friend of TFPD, to be included in the moment of silence for fallen emergency responders. Carol Tucker, Vice President, added a request that we all keep our country in our prayers, as we go through this very trying time, and Smith asked for a moment of silence for all who are in need during the holidays. The moments of silence were followed by roll call, all board members and Chief Odnr were in attendance. Smith requested the IGA agreement with Black Hawk be added to the agenda under new business for approval. 

Upon opening the budget hearing, secretary to the board, Jennifer Hinderman, presented the 2020 budget to the board. The budget was reviewed, and no discussion was deemed necessary by board members. The hearing was then closed. 

The pension board of trustees meeting was opened, revealing two pension board members were not present. The draft minutes from the previous pension board meeting, held September 16, 2019, and the allocation report for the third quarter of 2019, were both approved.

The board moved on to review the pension plan of volunteer firefighters. Board member at large Rick Wenzel spoke to the issue. Wenzel reported volunteers with TFPD have not been eligible to participate in the pension program since 2012. Currently, there are about 58 retirees in the plan collecting benefits and 6 active members who are invested in the program. Wenzel suggested a cash payout option for existing beneficiaries. Vice President Carol Tucker spoke to the importance of keeping TFPD’s word to the beneficiaries currently vested in the program. Others on the board, including Wenzel, supported Tucker’s position. Wenzel agreed to research a cash buy out option for pension beneficiaries.    

The pension board meeting was closed, re-opening the regular meeting of the TFPD board. The meeting minutes from the previous board meeting on November 12, 2019, and the workshop on December 2, 2019, were passed unanimously. The treasurer’s report, including November 2019 draft financials, was reviewed by the board. No issues were reported. 

In new business resolutions to certify the mill levy for 2020 revealed the applied Gallagher adjustment to the mill levy rate is currently 8.342, and will increase to 8.3804 in 2020, accounting for a revenue difference from 2019 to 2020 of $4,810.45. This difference applies to residential property tax revenue from both Boulder and Gilpin counties. 

Resolutions to adopt the budget for 2020, and to appropriate funds for 2020, including funds for the general fund totaling $2,250,094 and the Timberline water supply fund of $24,349 were approved unanimously. The 2020 meeting schedule was also adopted unanimously.

 A resolution calling for the 2020 regular district election and appointing a DEO, Designated Election Official, was approved. The president and vice president positions on the board will remain filled until 2022. In May an election will be held for the remaining three seats on the board. Michael Carlson, current board treasurer, reported he will not be seeking his seat as there is business at the library that will keep him occupied in 2020. 

In old business, Chief Odnr revealed TFPD requested PILT, payments in lieu of taxes, funding from Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners. Gilpin County responded with a letter that Timberline’s request was considered and denied. Discussion in the meeting revealed both Gilpin dispatch and TFPD are currently converting their radio communication service from VHF to 800. The change was prompted by a statewide switch that results in increased costs to the existing service agreement for any district or county services who remain with VHF. The maintenance agreement currently costs 64k monthly, so the switch to 800 radios, used by the rest of the state, is the only affordable option for TFPD and Gilpin County. 

VP to the TFPD board, Carol Tucker, surmised from the letter of denial that PILT funding was not approved for TFPD due to the increased cost Gilpin dispatch will incur from the switch from VHF to 800 radios. However, TFPD will incur an estimated $340,000 cost associated with transitioning to 800 radios and the unanticipated denial for funding announced only weeks prior to the 2020 year, left TFPD dismayed. A meeting between the Gilpin County Commissioners and TFPD is scheduled for January 14, 2020. Tucker reported her hope is that all parties can come to the table willing to communicate openly, addressing their common problem and move forward in agreement to solve the issue together. TFPD recently included more areas in Gilpin County to their district for protection. This inclusion required additional staff and equipment, including a truck which was purchased for 90k. 

Chief Odnr’s monthly report revealed Gilpin dispatch, Boulder County dispatch and the Chief will meet on December 19, to discuss the 800 radio migration as well as to discuss ways to improve dispatching to the Boulder County portion of Timberline’s district. Timberline responded to a total of 46 calls in November. On January 6, 2020, three shift lieutenants will start working full time with TFPD. 

With regards to training, the chief reported 2020 training plans will be released before the end of the year. In January a review of the driver’s training program will be conducted. Currently, plans have been made to re-engage medical training every other month with St. Anthony’s hospital, along with quarterly training with other response partners. 

The Chief also reported a fire truck was involved in an accident while leaving the bay on December 9, 2019, in response to a structure fire. The truck sustained mechanical and cosmetic damage and will be towed to Ft. Collins for repair pending estimate receipt. The Chief is reviewing information gathered at the scene to determine if changes need to be made to policy or training to avoid similar accidents in the future. 

(Originally published in the December 19, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)