GILPIN COUNTY – The Timberline Fire Protection District held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. 

Board members present included President Rick Wenzel, Vice Chairman John Bushey, and Member at Large John Carder. Mary Kate McKenna attended by phone. Kristin Turner was absent but excused. Also in attendance were Fire Chief Paul Ondr and Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman. 

New Business: Board Positions 

Wenzel asked if anyone was interested in changing positions. No one opted for any changes to the current board. All were in agreement to keep the current organizational structure. 

Wenzel announced that he started a new job in Arizona, which is four weeks on and one week off at a time. He said he will be forced to attend most of the meetings virtually without alterations to the schedule. 

Due to statutory requirements, only two alterations could be made to the meeting schedule. The board will post notices of any changes to its website.

Resolution: Adopting and Entering into the Trust Agreement for the Colorado Firefighter Heart, Cancer, and Behavioral Health Benefits Trust

Hinderman said that DOLA would likely reimburse TFPD for the cost of the mandatory agreement. Carder asked about the scope of the implied consequences. Hinderman and Ondr said they had just received the email and that they need more information in order to understand the agreement.

The board decided to hold off until next month to gain more insight into the matter. 

Continued Business: Capital Projects, Station 3: CDS/USDA Grant – Station 3 Addition

Ondr said they are waiting for the metal building manufacturer to “get their ducks in a row.” He said the project has been pushed back a few weeks.

Other than that, the rest of the project is going as planned. 

Sign the Record of Preconstruction Conference Letter for USDA

The board chuckled at the complexity of receiving USDA grant money and signed the letter.

Chief Ondr’s Report

Operations: The department responded to 70 calls during May.

Support Services: Since implementing the “Assets” module in FirstDue, staff have compiled a substantial list of work orders now centralized in one location. Payment has been received for Tender 54, which is scheduled for pickup on Thursday.

The new tender has experienced a slight delay, with final inspection anticipated in July. Delivery of the truck is expected 3–4 weeks after that.

Wildland/Mitigation:

Chief Ondr is scheduled to meet with the USFS District Forester on Friday to obtain approval for roadside mitigation on USFS property. Brush 59 assisted with the Forsythe prescribed fire under a 10-day resource order. As of May 4, the new B59 was made available for national deployment.

Payment has also been received for the Palisades Fire.

Chipping events for 2025 are planned for Aspen Springs in June, Severance Lodge in July, and Bun Gun in August. A cost estimate is underway for a chipper box to fit the old gray brush truck. Residential mitigation work is now scheduled through the fourth week of July.

Administration:

Hinderman has been handling all preparations for the upcoming 2024 Audit. The department's website is currently ADA compliant ahead of the state deadline. Staff are also exploring several federal grant opportunities in coordination with a grant writer.

Four full days have been spent cleaning and organizing the Support Services office. Significant time has also been devoted to assessing the support services position's current state and future needs.

Recruitment & Retention:

Nineteen applications have been received. The department is in the process of confirming applicant interest, with several candidates identified as in-district.

Training Events and Activities: Ten members completed their S130/190 wildland training. Four members completed the EMR course.

• May 6: Participated in Pipeline Emergency Training.

• June 1: Conducted a joint Search and Rescue training with Alpine Rescue and several other agencies; 68 attendees.

• June 11: Scheduled to use the UC Health Simulation Trailer.

Other issues approved: 

• Regular Meeting minutes: May 14, 2025

• Pension Board of Trustees: Minutes: March 11, 2025, Allocation Report: Q1 2025

• Treasurer’s Report: May 2025: Unaudited Financials

The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 15, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Station 3, 19126 Highway 119, Black Hawk.