Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Gilpin County. The regular meeting of the Timberline Fire Protection District, TFPD, Board of directors was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on November 12, 2019, at station #7, 660 Highway 46 in Black Hawk, followed by the pledge of allegiance. A moment of silence was observed for emergency workers who put themselves in harm’s way, as well as their families. All board members, President Chip Smith, Vice President Carol Tucker, Treasurer Michael Carlson, Members at large Doug Lupo and Rick Wenzel, Chief Paul Ondr and Secretary to the board Jennifer Hinderman, were all in attendance. 

The minutes from the meeting held October 15, 2019, were approved without public comment. Michael Carlson presented the unaudited financials, treasurer’s report, for October 2019. The board approved the financials following a review. 

In new business, The Adam’s Group submitted their audit contract to the board disclosing, “the objective of their audit is the expression of opinions as to whether the board’s financial statements are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to report on the fairness of the collective basic financial statements of the TFPD to this year’s end, up to and including December 31, 2019.” The Adam’s Group will provide an independent audit in cooperation with, for the purpose of providing data, appropriate TFPD management staff. The audit will examine records looking for; errors, fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, or violations of laws or governmental regulations. Audits like these are standard in government service agencies to ensure accountability within and to the community.

The impact study, scheduled for discussion in old business, was moved to an executive session following the regular meeting. 

Chief Ondr reported TFPD responded to 62 calls in October, including a fatal structure fire on October 30, 2019, that was not easy to get to and presented many challenges. One adult male was found deceased in the home, according to Chief Ondr’s report. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Chief thanked the fire departments of Sugarloaf, Nederland, Coal Creek, Golden Gate, Central City, Black Hawk, Gilpin Road and Bridge, as well as the High Country Auxiliary, stating they all assisted in different ways.”  

The following day, October 31, 2019, an auto accident occurred, requiring an extraction, which TFPD has not needed to perform in many years. The driver had significant injuries but was removed successfully and transferred for appropriate medical care. 

On November 1, 2019, Eric Johnson stepped in as the new training coordinator for TFPD. He and eight other members of the fire department attended a training in Keystone the weekend of November 9, 2019. 

New maintenance technician, Ward Watson, started on November 6, 2019, and has been charged with clearing old files and organizing existing files and paperwork for now. 

Fourteen applications were received for the position of shift lieutenant. Interviews for the applicants remaining were scheduled for November 18, 2019, including a written test, skills evaluation and panel interview. 

The Board of Directors will host a holiday party on December 3, 2019, serving fire department volunteers. Happy Holidays!

(Originally published in the November 21, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)