The Timberline Fire District Board of Directors terminated the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration during a regular meeting on July 12, 2021, at 6 p.m. at Station 5, 14908 Highway 119, Black Hawk. The Board also committed funds to start the process toward purchasing the Woodbury Claim, presented two Black Hat awards, heard a presentation on the District’s 2020 audit, and discussed updates on projects.

The Fire Chief declared a local disaster on March 18, 2020, with respect to the national public health emergency and worldwide pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). A declaration of a local disaster emergency activates the response and recovery aspects of all local and interjurisdictional disaster emergency plans and authorizes furnishing aid and assistance under such plans.

The Disaster Declaration would remain in effect indefinitely and was to have been reviewed at each of the regularly scheduled Board of Directors of the District meetings. At the July 12 meeting, Fire Chief Paul Ondr presented a resolution to terminate the Disaster Declaration. He said Gilpin County has not ended its Disaster Declaration but the State has.

“We are not experiencing any COVID anything,” Ondr said. The whole purpose of the declaration was to put the District in a position to get reimbursed for COVID costs, and he doesn’t see a reason to continue it.

The Board approved a resolution to terminate the Disaster Declaration.

Chief Ondr presented an update on purchasing the Woodbury Claim in Virginia Canyon. He said he got the survey back on the land with nothing new on the survey. The mining claim is divided into four parcels and is right at three acres, but it has access only to one parcel. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns property nearby.

The property would allow the same kind of building as Station 8, which is 40 feet deep by 60 feet. The smallest they could build would be 40 feet by 40 feet. Costs would include paying the County a $500 fee.

Next on the project would be contacting BLM, which doesn’t usually have a problem with letting little pieces go, and they could set up a holding tank on that land. “Based on location, this is going to be the best thing we can find that we can afford,” Ondr said.

A dirt driveway goes through the property, but having a road won’t be a problem, he said. The parcel is zoned RR and the maximum building height is 40 feet if they want to go two stories.

“I feel pretty comfortable we can fit what we need there,” he said. The owner quoted a $50,000 price, and said, “Send me a check and I will do a quit claim deed.”

Ondr said if approved he will gather more information and bring it back to the Board next month. It’s a buildable site right off the road and is flat.

The Board agreed to move forward with purchasing the land and sitting on it until they can fund the building. They passed a motion to commit $58,000, giving the Chief the ability to work with an attorney and make an offer.

Chief Ondr presented two Black Hat helmets. “This is an exciting evening,” he said.

He presented the first to Firefighter Josh Colgan. When Colgan joined the team two years ago, he had no experience whatsoever. Now he has completed Fire 1, EMR, and wildland training, which just wrapped up. He is looking forward to deploying. Ondr also presented a helmet to long-time Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman.

Jason Adams with The Adams Group, LLC, presented the 2020 Annual Audit Opinion. The District had budget amendments due to higher than anticipated wages, new radios, and legal fees.

He did not recommend any costeffective recommendations this year, and said the District’s policies are operating as designed. He will finalize the Audit by the July 31 deadline.

Chief Ondr updated the Board on the Smith Hill Station. It is in a holding pattern, waiting for it to be sorted out. At the June 28 meeting, Chief Ondr introduced property owners Joel and Martha Green, who would like to ensure the Smith Hill property is not to be subdivided or sold.

Per the family’s wishes, if the trust gains the property, they will either donate it to the state park, or sell with restrictions on any future building additions. The trust is agreeable to Timberline continuing to use the property.

The trust will work on cleaning up the trust/deed for the property. Chief Ondr explained that the funds generated from any sale would be used to purchase land to build a new station in a more appropriate location.

Chief Ondr told the Board that in another month or so he will revisit this. They are open to discussions moving forward.

The next regular meeting of the Timberline Fire District Board of Directors will be on August 10, 2021, at 6 p.m.