Posted on: September 15th, 2025

GHFPD Board Meeting, Monday, August 17, 2025

         Minutes by Gretchen Diefenderfer

Next Meeting – Monday, September , 2025, 7:00 p.m. at the Firebarn and by Zoom

 The meeting was called to order by Boyd Brown as President Kent Coghill was out on the Meeker Fire.  Attending were Boyd, Board Members Max Yeager, and Chris Dirolf, plus community members Assistant Chief Greg Buis, Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, and James and Cindy Mericle.  Attending by Zoom were Leslie Finn and Chief Rich Caudill. 

Minutes of the July 21 meeting were approved as edited.  The Mericles introduced themselves.  They are from Texas and are new community members. They were there because they’d heard this meeting would be about mitigation.  Chris let them know about the CWPP, the proposed projects, and there’s good info on the CSU website  (https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/community-wildfire-protection-plans/).  He advised them to reach out if they have questions (dirolfski@nullgmail.com).We also told them about the Office of Disaster Management (https://boulderodm.gov) and Wildfire Partners (https://wildfirepartners.org) and all the info and services available.  Everyone is advised to sign up for Everbridge (the County reverse 9-1-1) at ODM.

Chief’s Report

Operational Update – Rich reports on the status of the new truck that Fouts is building for us.  Looking at the contract from December of last year, it calls for 12-15 month build time.  The original intention was for the end of this year, but they are behind schedule and it looks like the end of February now.  We should be fine with the grant money, but need to keep Barb Halpern at Boulder County updated. C Western will provide a Warranty Invoice to BoCo.  Final design meeting is in September.  Max discussed it with Jordan Koffler in July when he was in Yakima.  Doesn’t think it’s a backwoods brush truck, but will be a great truck for us – excellent replacement for 5404, which is still a good truck, but old and hard to get parts for (General Motors Diesel engine).  If we need a brush truck, we maybe need to buy one.  Chief O’Brien warned about 30 month delivery on new trucks, so not as long as that.

Rich reported the 1B grant cycle closes in October.  Traditionally, departments that get a significant amount don’t apply the following year to leave room for others.  Chief O’B said we’ve never exceeded the amount available so we should be in a good position.  Ideas for projects: concrete apron in front of firebarn to work on trucks and make it easier to clear in winter – would like to keep under $20,000.  Max added we’d probably have to do some exploratory digging regarding the new doors, so that might fit in well with the apron plan and perhaps the 1500g cistern that’s right in front of the barn.  Also, the 10,000g cistern is getting filled.  Fourmile has helped.

Boyd reported that the Senior Alliance has been meeting here in the barn and have expressed concern about the north side access being icy in the winter.  Max plans to put in some barrels and pea gravel and needs volunteers to help construct stands to hold them.  He’s always wanted to turn the stairway around and access from the south so it’d get the sunshine.  He’s suggesting a breakwater wall, which would help with the staircase and with the Gold Run overflow that seems to happen occasionally.  It created a lot of problems last time.  He has buried a big tree for diversion, which works pretty well, but won’t be sufficient if the water is really high.

Chris said, yes, apply for the grant.  $5,000?  Boyd suggested $5-$10,000 for planning first? 

Rich said that a potable water supply is also on the list, and in the next 3-5 years the SCBA bottles will expire.  We can get them hydro’d just before to extend their life, but they will have to be replaced.  He wants to keep our requests reasonable.

Chis added we need to discuss all these budget matters with Jess next meeting.

Max also suggested replacing the man door and building an entryway to the east, but that may already be in the budget.

They have an executive board meeting coming up – can bring all this up and then vote on in September meeting.

Rich added the port-a-pond also needs replacing – probably around $2500.

Training – Rich reports Greg is working on the onboarding process for new hires.  Training is going well – performance on the operational level has improved dramatically – had a good drafting and pumping complex operation with Fourmile.

Maintenance – Took 39 out and looked at the booster line fed directly from the tank re reported leak.  The replaced valve is functional.  Internal tank to pump?  Need to dive deeper.  Pump to booster reel?  Chris Finn looked at 02 and thought the primer pump was stuck – flushed it out.  Booster reel – mechanical connection nozzle and hose.  Max noted that if we need to move to professional mechanics we should consider the guys in Ft. Collins.  We need to nail these problems down before winter.  Rich reported an oil stain under the front of 04 transmission area.

Garage Doors – Will meet with Brendan Jeffrey this week.  We have paid an invoice for $1400.

New Hydrant – up and functional – moving at a good flow.  Will need staircase up.  Can maybe use some of the old beams.  Maybe want a small structure to house hose and need a wrench for each truck.  Chris D suggested asking Fourmile – might have extras.  Bret always says look around.

Recruitment – Chaya Bar-Evan is functioning as an EMT – no fire side yet.  Aiden is back in school – has pager, radio, and equipment and will respond when in town.   Benjamin Ross, ex-navy corpsman, medic, firefighter, is into joining – lives at Charles’ and Torkin’s.  Will work on onboarding.

Operational Readiness – Fourmile is offering an EMR class.  Kris and Austin are interested.  Max moved we pay $900 each – up to $2000, Chris D seconded and it passed.

Capital Replacement – no report

Budget – Will start the process at the September meeting when Jess is back.

Maltese logo update –Rich likes the gold leaf background for the trucks, black and white for shirts, etc.  Will get input from volunteers.   

OTHER

Grants – No BLM grant.  Input received was they wanted more in terms of interactions with other governmental organizations: BLM, Forest Service, and we focused more on community protection.  Chris D reports we’re still waiting on the BWS grant.

Nicky Andrews will be working on Instagram, Twitter, and FaceBook – needs some links.

Collaboration/CWPP – nothing new

Website – no report

Vector Solutions – no report

Gold Rush – Maybe Nicky could have an information table?

Fundraising – Joanne Cole and Leslie got together and put together a list of companies who donated and written thank you letters – Nicky delivered them.  The feedback from the companies was exceptional.

Parking/Crowds – Visitors later at night seem to be using our town as a urinal – don’t seem to want to use the privy.  Chris D pointed out that the Sheriffs are spread so thin it’s not easy to get their help, but on weekends the streets are packed, sometimes impassable, and then they all drive home after drinking.  The bad parking and crowds situation is not a big problem until it IS a problem and when it occurs and we can’t respond it’ll be a very bad day.  The town is just not big enough for the crowds.  Seems like nothing is going to change until the law is involved – we need to reach out to them.  Need a presence even if periodic – maybe occasional checkpoint?  Law enforcement has the authority.  Rich pointed out that the Board needs to delineate between law enforcement and emergency response.  He will come up and drive through.  Boyd added that Bret Gibson talked about the authority of the Chief and Rich agreed the Chief does have a lot of authority.  Chris D added there’s a lot of tailgating, cooking and drinking, gas grills (fire danger) right now.  Moving into the busy season next year, we really need to figure some things out.  Leslie reported that, at the Inn, Brian clears people if they’re standing in the street and monitors the legal limit inside.  She saw what looked like 100 people in the Store and spilling into the street, plus a lot of people pre-partying in cars on the street.  Sheriff activity could be a huge help.  Boyd thinks it would be good to let the establishment people know we’re going to do something.

Rich reports two Firefighters passed – Ken Kehoe from Nederland, ad Eric Losh from Mountain View.  He’ll offer our condolences and see if coverage is needed for the services coming up.

Max moved we adjourn, Chris seconded and the meeting was called at 9:02.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary.