GILPIN COUNTY — The Timberline Fire Protection District Board of Directors covered financial topics at their July 23, 2026, board meeting at Station #3. The board also accepted the resignation of Mary Kate McKenna and recognized the mitigation and deployment crews that have been active during this busy fire season.

As well as reviewing and accepting the 2025 Audit Report, the board  unanimously approved a resolution authorizing an election on the question of increasing the District’s mill rate. An intergovernmental agreement was also unanimously approved in order to participate in the November General Election.

Ryan Graham from Adams Group, LLC, attended the meeting virtually to discuss the 2025 Annual Audit Report with the board. The auditors confirmed the District’s financial statements with minor adjustments to recognize crew deployments in 2025. Crew deployments to other fires incur revenue and expenses that aren’t known when the original budget is approved but become part of the budget after all deployments for the year are accounted for.

The board held a hearing at the start of the meeting to allow for public comment regarding the amended 2025 budget, which included 2025 deployment activity. There were no public comments and the resolution to approve the amended 2025 budget passed unanimously.

Board President Rick Wenzel read Mary Kate McKenna’s resignation letter, and the board accepted her resignation and declared the position vacant. The board will appoint a replacement at their August 10, meeting. Anyone wanting to apply for the vacant board position should contact Wenzel at rwenzel@timberlinefire.com.

The resolution to increase the District’s mill rate included appointing Micki Mills as the Designated Election Official (DEO). The board will work with the DEO to formulate the ballot language for presentation at the next board meeting. Fire Chief Paul Ondr said that fire season is becoming a year-round threat and the revenue raised will be used to hire staff to handle the increase in calls.

 In his report to the board, Ondr stated that Timberline had 78 calls in June and is 108 calls ahead of last year. Average response time in May was 10 minutes and 31 seconds. Timberline responded via mutual aid to small wildland fires in Nederland, Black Hawk, and Golden Gate over the July 11 weekend.

Maintenance issues in the last month included reworking the well at Station #1 and installing the new Smokey Wildfire sign at Station #3. Ondr is working with the contractor to finish the remaining items on the construction punch list before final payment is issued.

In personnel activity, Ondr announced the promotion of Emily Cresswell to a full time position and the hiring of Blake Watson to a part time position.

The board recognized Ondr and Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman for their tireless efforts on the Station #3 upgrades with gift baskets.

The next board meeting will be August 10, 2026, at Station #3 at 6 p.m.

For more information about Timberline, contact Jennifer Hinderman at jhinderman@timberlinefire.com or 303-582-5768 x701 or visit their website at timberlinefire.com.