Standing tall: Tom Wojtaszek receives his “Black Hat,” an honor given upon completion of training with the Timberline Fire Protection District. PHOTO BY MINDY LEARY[/caption]

At approximately 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2023, Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) held their monthly board meeting at Station 1, located at 5927 Magnolia Road, Nederland, following an open house where local residents enjoyed burgers and met their local firefighters.

President Rick Wenzel, Vice President John Bushey, Member at Large John Carder, Treasurer Whitney Donoghue, and Member at Large Mary Kate McKenna attended the meeting as well as Fire Chief Paul Ondr, Chief Chris Schimanskey, and Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman. Highlights of the meeting included the awarding of a black hat to Firefighter Tom

Wojtaszek, the Chief’s Report, and the resignation of Donoghue.

The board of directors recessed their regular meeting and convened as the Pension Board of Trustees.

The board approved the minutes for the pension board meeting from March 14, 2023. Then they reviewed the allocation report from the first quarter of 2023.

The board adjourned as the Pension Board and reconvened as the Board of Directors.

Ondr presented a black hat to Tom Wojtaszek. Black firefighter hats are awarded to volunteers who have completed their training.

Old business included progress reports on Stations 9 and 3. Station 9, known as Virginia Canyon, should have signage soon and only has a small list of repairs. Soon Ondr will have conversations with DOLA on water and sewage for the station. Station 3, known as the Observatory, is in need of a new roof and the district will be reapplying for a roof grant in October.

Next, the Board discussed the Chief’s Annual Review. They decided to form a committee of two to come up with survey questions and then discuss the results at a workshop in July. At the September meeting, they will review the financials, survey results, and recommendations for the Chief’s salary.

During the Chief’s report, Ondr reported that TFPD responded to 45 calls in May. Average response time district-wide was 9 minutes 44 seconds. They responded to a small house fire on May 9. A quick response and quick action by crews kept the damage to a minimum.

With the wet weather, they are responding to more residents burning slash without permits or snow cover.

The new temporary firefighter position begins this week, providing more coverage for the long hours assigned to full-time firefighters.

In Wildland/Mitigation News, the chipper truck and chipper are here. The county tower project is complete, and the mitigation on the mid-county island near Jankowski is almost complete. The planning for Corona Heights mitigation is in the works.

In Administration news, the district will be holding interviews for new firefighters in July, with onboarding in August. Ondr encourages anyone interested to apply.

Hinderman and Ondr will be picking a vendor soon for the Station 7 fire alarm system, which is 95 percent funded through grants.

In Training news, the engine/ tender driver task book is complete, with copies available. The brush/ utility task book is also complete with copies available.

Ondr is working on a new program to qualify district Duty Officers for service above their current roles as firefighters. These extraordinary members will be known as “Senior Firefighters.”

June’s training subject is rope and backcountry rescue, and is a handson field day.

During public comment, Schimanskey encouraged everyone to attend the Gilpin County Fair being held July 14, 15, and 16 at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds. Timberline will be giving fire truck rides and encouraging the public to volunteer for the district.

Donoghue read a letter explaining her resignation from the board. With heartfelt tears, she said her family would be moving to Virginia in July and she expressed her gratitude in working with the district the past several years. In her words, “I cannot overstate the extent of my admiration for and confidence in TFPD’s current leadership. I will miss being a part of it.”

The meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

The next regular Board meeting and Pension Board Meeting for Timberline Fire Protection District will be held on Tuesday July 18, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Station 3, Fritz Peak Observatory, located at 19126 Highway 119, Black Hawk.