At approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2021, Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) held their monthly board meeting online and in-person. In attendance were President Rick Wenzel, Treasurer Whitney Donoghue, and Members-At-Large Chip Smith, Jeff Fisher, and John Bushey. Others present included Fire Chief Paul Ondr and Secretary Jennifer Hinderman. Highlights included a Smith Hill Update, Virginia Canyon survey vote, and an Apparatus Replacement Plan.

The Pledge of Allegiance was made and a moment of silence held for fallen firefighters. Roll Call revealed all were present. There were no changes to the agenda. The regular meeting minutes of May 11 and June 10, 2021 were approved. No public comment was made.

The May 2021 Treasurer’s Report of Unaudited Financials was presented. There were no questions.

New business included a Smith Hill Station Update concerning offers on the property at 2236 Smith Hill which was listed for sale at an asking price of $225,000. TFPD received 24 offers with a high of $275,000 and a low of $120,000. These amounts do not include escalation clauses that could drive the final sale price higher than the listed offer. TFPD’s legal counsel are working to find a resolution regarding the identified title issue. A special meeting will likely be proposed prior to the regular meeting in July.

TFPD found a potential property to house a Virginia Canyon fire station. The next step is to secure a survey to ensure the property is large enough to fit the needed station inside the county-required setbacks. The current property owner has a surveyor that can complete the work at a total cost of $5,000. The owner would like $3,500 from TFPD to complete the work. This expense will likely come from general fund reserves and will be added to the amended budget later this year.

This is the first step in obtaining land to construct a station to improve services to the Virginia Canyon and Bald Mountain areas, which were included into the district in 2017. Smith made a motion to that effect, which was passed unanimously.

In 2000, High Country Fire and a local property owner jointly installed a 30,000-gallon fiberglass cistern in Rollinsville for firefighting needs. The cistern was operational for a period of time until leaks began; it was fixed several times but the leaks are no longer repairable.

Ondr sought approval from the board to commit $25,000 to help fund repairs or replacement for the cistern. All were in favor.

An Apparatus Replacement Plan was submitted in the Consent Agenda to pay off the current lease for the Rosenbauers, replace the four current Rosenbauer engines with three new engines, purchase two new additional brush trucks, and to purchase tax-exempt leasing. The economic impacts from this plan will require an amendment to the budget later this year.

A motion was made to pay off the current lease with Suntrust, that passed unanimously.

A motion was made to accept the trade- in agreement for the four Rosenbauer engines with Brindlee Mountain. All were in favor.

The Purchase Agreement between Front Range Fire Apparatus and TFPD to buy three engines was approved unanimously with no discussion. Additionally, a Purchase Agreement between Front Range Apparatus and TFPD to buy two brush trucks pending legal review was also approved by all.

A motion was made to approve the resolution to authorize Richard Wenzel as signatory and Jennifer Hinderman as contestor for the upcoming tax-exempt lease purchase. Motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Once funds are received from the first trade-in, Ondr would like to complete the process of replacing their extrication equipment with new technology battery- operated equipment. Total cost of equipment, which would come via trade- in funds, would be roughly $40,000. The request was approved unanimously.

TFPD responded to 56 calls in May. TFPD has currently removed all previous COVID directives with the exception of the Wildland Deployment directive. They currently have adequate supplies of PPE with small amounts in reserve. Gilpin County has additional reserves, if needed.

They are providing the support staff for the vaccine clinics, providing 3-4 members for each clinic. They are doing paperwork, directing people, assisting people to the site, etc.

In administrative news, the summer picnic has been scheduled for July 17. It will be held at Columbine Park in Dory Lakes at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited, including family and friends.

There is a proposed special meeting on June 28, 2021. A Stage 1 Fire Ban will go into effect on June 17.

There was no public comment and the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

The next regular board meeting for Timberline Fire Protection District will be publicly and virtually held on Monday, July 12, 2021, at 6 p.m. with a Chief’s Review afterward; it can be accessed via their website under the “Board of Directors” tab.