Posted on: January 15th, 2024

GOLD HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

November 20, 2023 – Unofficial minutes – next meeting 1/22/2024

 

Call to Order, Attendance, Budget Meeting – The meeting was called to order by President Kent Coghill.  Present were board members Kent, Boyd Brown, Jessica Brookhart, Max Yeager, and Chris Dirolf, Acting Chiefs Chris O’Brien and Bret Gibson, late arrival recording secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer and Leslie Finn attended by Zoom..

The Board met at 6 to review and approve the 2024 budget.  The motion to approve the budget was approved unanimously and the resolution to adopt was passed. The budget is posted on the fire department website (goldhillfire.org under GHFPD Board Information).

 

Minutes of the October 16^th meeting were approved.

 

Fire Chief’s Minutes , Training – Bret reported that the training schedule has been published by Leslie Finn – will have some updates.  Fourmile and Sunshine are engaged in getting some outside speakers to increase interest.

         If Gold Hill gets the extrication equipment grant, Fourmile will purchase more to compliment it and will lean on Lefthand for training.

         Chris O’Brien reported on the Boulder West meeting where the idea was brought up to have some refreshers with four districts (bring Sugarloaf into the mix) – might have to use the County Training Center to accommodate the numbers.  Maybe do two per year.  There is obviously a spectrum of knowledge . It would be good to get everyone up to date on the 130/190 training – maybe put out a “cliff notes” version for everyone.  We have two options for the pack tests – arduous and less arduous – and would like to get everyone up to a standard.  Can do online and then schedule a field day.

         Boyd reported that recruiting volunteers is showing up in the Strategic Planning meetings including how people can participate and contribute other than fighting fires.  They would like to make space for all kinds of participation and are looking at how to make personal contact to encourage. 

         Bret added that Fourmile is going to do a mini academy to educate the public about radios, trucks, etc. People need a relationship with their fire department. 

ISO rating for insurance – we need a committee of 2-3 people to look at how to lower our rating.  ISO has been purchased by Infotec, Inc., which does data gathering for Insurance companies.  We are at a 9 and it will be tough to get it lower.  We need to look at NFIS National Fire Information Services) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) guidelines.  Chris O’Brien added there is also certification available from Firewise Committee.

 

Station Maintenance – The overhead heater downstairs doesn’t come on when it should – probably been there since 1972.  Bret will bring a new thermostat tomorrow. 

 

Equipment – Max requested $100 for tools – ok’d.

 

Operational Readiness/Strategic Planning – Boyd reports the committee met 2 weeks ago and they have another meeting tomorrow.  They aim to get through all 4 categories of the norms.  They’ve finished weaknesses and rated those issues – will finalize tomorrow.  Then onto threats and then will have something for approval soon.  They plan to get together with Sunshine to compare notes.

 

ODM (Office of Disaster Management) Plan – Bret pointed out that we need to adopt their plan or put together out own plan.  Chris Dirolf moved that we adopt their plan, Boyd seconded, and the ODM plan was adopted.  Kent will need to sign tomorrow and get a receipt.

 

SDA Membership – Kent will email Ron Beebe regarding the fees

 

Vehicles – Max reported that 04 is all chained up and can go down Lickskillet.  02 has rear chains on and the 39 chains are stretched nearby.  They have to be checked to make sure they fit over the new tires and some old parts need to be replaced.  Everything is starting up and running fine. 

         The UTV pump is inside for the winter.  Anita thinks it’s something of a problem with visibility the way it’s been mounted – too high up.  We now have the shipping container to house the UTV– it’s planned to be temporary for a year.  We’re looking for any available portable shelving to put in it.

Inventory – We areworking on the large and small equipment replacement schedule – prioritizing  it all and looking at expiration dates, etc  Bret suggested color coding stuff for the different trucks.  Leslie is working with AMR on medical equipment purchases.  Steffi’s role as quartermaster means going through most of our stuff including PPE and Leslie is handling the medical stuff.  Val is working with handheld radios and pagers.  She wants a list of everyone with equipment and if they are not participating considering asking for it back – she did get the radios back from the Mazurkiewicz’s.  As far as the radios, firefighters can transmit (per state and county regulations), but not if you’re not a firefighter.  Val’s collecting the data on all our equipment and hoping to get some new ones to improve reception particularly in our dead spots. Whip antennas can help.  Lefthand Canyon communication is always a problem.

 

End of Year Party – Kent reached out to the Store and it’s ok’d for December 14^th.  They proposed a budget of $700 to provide one drink and pizzas for probably 40 people per our roster.  Jess is working on some schwag – t-shirts, etc. and has sent out a survey on the logo that members can vote on.

 

Roster – We need a discussion on minimum criteria requirements.  The plan is to ask our cadre of dedicated people who respond what they think.  Bret added that Fourmile has a training program based on two years and he defers to the training officer regarding what participation is required.  Kent will reach out to our   cadre to see what they recommend.

 

Administrative – The board is looking at the idea of hiring a part time Chief.  They plan to put out a description in January and potentially have someone in February.  Over the past few months, the firefighters have reached out asking where that’s going – with the officers and the chief.  The Board had an executive board meeting to work on this. This led to a discussion of how much full-time chiefs make, what standard background do we require, the need for for local buy-in and dedication.  Bret pointed that we have approximately 30 calls per year, which isn’t a huge challenge,  but once hardening the community and mitigation work is included to meet the needs of the community and administer the fire department, it becomes a bigger job.

 

Grants – Jess and Bret submitted grants for  County 1B funds for wildland gear, hose, extrication equipment, thermal imaging equipment for $79,00.

         Boyd added there are 2 more grants in the works with Maya and us and the County. One would be an extension of the AIM Grant for basic planning.  The other is a fuels reduction grant.  There is a meeting with the County and Maya regarding the planning and possible implementation.  They’re looking at specific areas and places that need specialized mitigation equipment.  Also included is grasslands fire danger reduction stuff – grazing for instance.  There’ll be more information after the meeting tomorrow.

 

Collaboration – Chris Dirolf (he and Virginia Schultz are members) reported on the Boulder West Authority Committee (Four districts: Sugarloaf, Gold Hill, Sunshine, Fourmile,  have set up this committee).  They are to meet quarterly (they’re figuring out bylaws and their organizational structure by the January meeting).  They need to update our CWPP to and update our maps to reflect areas that have been mitigated, etc..  They’re looking at large and small projects in all 4 districts, and for funding for Maya and the BWC (Boulder Watershed Collective).  That would be 1B funding.

 

Website – no report, Fundraising – no report

 

There will be no meeting in December unless something urgent comes up.  Per the budget calendar, Jess reports the next step is certifying the mill levy, then we submit our formal budget.

 

Meeting adjourned

 

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, recording secretary