Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Gilpin County. The regular meeting of the TFPD Board of Directors gathered on June 18, 2019, at station #7, 660 Hwy 46 in Black Hawk. The meeting was delayed due to an insufficient number of board members in attendance. While the regular board waited for a member to arrive, the pension board meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. 

The meeting commenced in the usual way, with the pledge of allegiance, a moment of silence for fallen law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel and those who serve this nation and are in harm’s way.

Roll call revealed one board member absent and excused, and one board member returning from out of town, but in route to the meeting and excused. Another board member was not in attendance due to recent resignation from the board.  All other board members, Chip Smith, and Michael Carlson, from TFPD board  and Chris Schimanskey and John Etzkorn from the TFPD pension board,  were present.  

Following the approval of the minutes from the pension board meeting in March, an updated fourth quarter allocation report was presented to the pension board. The FPPA, Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado, recently completed a revised allocation report for the fourth quarter of 2018. Secretary to the Board, Jennifer Hinderman, reported the FPPA experienced high turnover at the end of 2018, causing delays and confusion. The state matching funds for the fourth quarter of 2018, were not sent until the first week of January, 2019. The purpose of the recent audit was to update the fourth quarter allocation report to accurately reflect the delay. 

Hinderman assured the pension board all emails sent by the state confirming the error was made by the state’s administration had been saved by her, in the event there are problems down the road. Additionally an updated actuarial report, due by the end of July, should serve as a further safeguard in the event there are issues with state matched funding to pensions in 2019. 

The Pension board adjourned, and a short recess commenced, to await the arrival of a fourth TFPD board member, to open the regular meeting of the TFPD Board of Directors. According to TFPD Board of Director’s guidelines, four members of the board must be present to hold a meeting.  

The first order of business, when the board re-convened after a five minute recess, was a black helmet ceremony. EMT Trisha Vallejo has completed Fire 1, Hazmat and Wildland  training since she came on board with TFPD in  February of 2018. She currently works for Lyons Fire Department, but has remained with TFPD as a volunteer and was honored for her hard work and commitment with the ceremonial Black Helmet. 

Gilpin County hired a designated Emergency Manager, Nate Whittington, in April this year. Nate was introduced to the board and reported he comes to Gilpin county with 17 years experience in emergency management with Colorado’s homeland security and Polk County Sheriff’s Department. 

Nate stated he’s here in Gilpin to help facilitate a streamlined approach to emergencies by unifying the services in Gilpin and Black Hawk, to maximize the use of existing emergency services in the county. He invited TFPD and the Board to a G402 class on July 24, 2019, local venue to be announced at a later date, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

After the Emergency Managers introduction, the meeting minutes from the May 13, 2019, meeting were approved and the dates for the Gilpin County Fair were announced. The fair will be held July 12, 13 and 14 and Timberline will staff a designated booth. 

In New Business, President Chip Smith announced the board has received, board member at large, Roy Stewart’s resignation. Discussion regarding requirements for electing new board members revealed there is not a legal requirement to announce an opening on the board or a defined time frame to wait before filing an opening. A motion to fill the vacancy with former board member and retired firefighter, Rick Wensel, passed unanimously. Rick took the oath, was sworn and signed in to the TFPD Board of Directors, and sat at the board table for the remainder of the meeting. 

The Chief Evaluation update was moved from the agenda to July to await Carol Tucker’s return. Tucker and former board member Stewart had been working on the evaluation for the board. 

A contract for an impact fee study was approved unanimously by the board, with a stipulation that the study not exceed $12,000. Pursuant to laws enacted in 2011 requiring fire department boards to order an impact fee study prior to passing resolutions approving the assessment of fees in lieu of putting in a cistern for a newly built residence. The goal of the impact fee study is to implement an appropriate fee option, and to determine where the fees will be allocated, within the guidelines of the law, by January of 2020.

In 2005 Roosevelt Ridge was included in Colorado Sierra Fire Department’s area with stipulation requirements; an easement for land for a firehouse, and specific cistern requirements. The requirements were not fully met. Roosevelt Ridge has agreed to address the original requirements. Completing the construction of the cisterns will require studies, funds and plans that have not yet been presented to TFPD. Building permits for the area are currently pending awaiting resolution of these issues. In the hopes of resolving the issue, without indefinitely holding up building permits, the Chief agreed to invite the board at Roosevelt Ridge to attend July’s TFPD board meeting. 

The Chief reported TFPD responded to 43 calls in May. Four offer letters were sent to applicants who interviewed to volunteer as firefighters. Chief Bondice is assisting planning for the Fourth of July Black Hawk Fireworks show, including the parade. A resident of gilpin county inquired with Chief Odnr about the possibility of a private fireworks display coordinated with the fire department. It appeared unlikely the fire department would be involved with any fireworks shows for private parties, citing optics of the department to the community and the possibility of other complications. 

The training completed for May included; seven members graduated and passed from Firefighter 1 and will retest for HAZMAT 2, five members attended thermal imaging class at North Metro Fire, four members attended Mayday training at North Metro Fire, and five members will be sent the Mile-High Fire Conference in September. Annual hose testing and pump training is ongoing. 

The Wildland Captain, hired earlier this year, has resigned and moved to Portland. The department is currently re-evaluating where funds allocated for salaried positions can be used to serve the community and department best, before advertising to hire new salaried positions this year. 

Regarding equipment and facilities, the parade truck was scheduled for use at a firefighters wedding in June, the Brush 53 boxes are scheduled for installation in June, new gas detectors are being installed, the internet is up at station 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, and a new pressure tank has been installed at station 4. 

Chief Odnr reported updates regarding administration including; a submitted application for a grant to cover the cost of two gas detectors and the flea market successfully raised funds for the auxiliary. 

The meeting adjourned for executive session at 830 p.m. 

The next meeting of the TFPD Board of Directors is scheduled for July 16, 2019, at station #7, 660 Highway 46 in Black Hawk at 7 p.m. 

(Originally published in the July 4, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)