Posted on: May 13th, 2022

May 13, 2022

Hello All,

         The GHFPD Board of Directors is writing to the community in response to emails written to volunteers by an officer of the GHFPD regarding rumors about the upcoming mill levy. The GHFPD Board of Directors appreciate and recognize the officer’s service to the community and understand their passion. We are all members of this community, and all have the same things at stake as mountain residents. We believe that everyone, fire department officers, volunteers, fire board members, and all community members have the same end goals and same values at heart. Values focused on how to protect our families, our homes, and our community. It’s important for us to have open dialogues about our community’s protection and how we provide that. These dialogues should be conducted professionally, allow for conversation, and be based on facts. The emails sent out to GHFPD volunteers yesterday from an officer of the department were not professional and not the right platform for expressing opinions. It’s unfortunate that this was how that individual decided to vent her opinions and beliefs, which appear to be based on secondhand conversation with a community member. Additionally, in a follow-up email by this individual, they themselves confirmed that what they were reporting were rumors.

        Your fire board is a group of unpaid volunteer community members, some of whom have lived here their whole life. When volunteers approach members of the board and express opinions, we listen. When things are brought up in meetings, we do our best to address and create safe spaces for people to voice their concerns and wishes. There are many other avenues available for expressing concerns or opinions that allow for both sides to have a say and possibly rectify miscommunications or clarify incorrect information. The fire board was not included in the email that was sent nor did we have access to who it was sent. Hopefully, all who were included in her email are receiving this response. Based on the concerns brought up in the email we will provide these facts from the fire board. If you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out directly to board members or attend the upcoming fire board meeting to ask questions.

       The motivation for an increase in the mill levy came about after a discussion with Lefthand Fire regarding how they were able to gain funds for creation of their new station. Mill levies were discussed publicly at this meeting and the board decided that an increase should be discussed further. The GHFPD operates on a very small budget and much of our equipment and hose are outdated. The prospect of a new or updated fire station is inconceivable with our current budget, hence the conversation with Lefthand on how they were successful. There are other factors that played into that success for them but an increase in the mill levy was an integral one. More conversations were had with other departments regarding their mill levy’s, populations, funds generated, and how they were used. Fourmile, being a close neighboring department who responds to many of our calls, was consulted about what an appropriate levy increase might look like. As with Lefthand Fire, Foumile has made great strides with their department over the past 15 years. Using mill levy funds, paired with vision and support of their Chief, volunteers, and community, they have an admirable fire program. Discussions were had about the purpose of a mill levy increase for GHFPD and what our goals were. In addition, a conversation was had regarding how Gold Hill and Fourmile could improve their partnership for better response times, higher levels of service, etc. In terms of this partnership, the history of both departments’ attempts at mergers were brought up and conversations were had about whether or not a merger in the future would make sense. An informal conversation was had to gain an understanding of what could be gained or lost if such a merger were to occur. Inevitably, both departments agreed that improved communication and partnership were more relevant and important for protection of both districts and that efforts like collaboration on CWPP’s, training, mitigation, and grants were most important. The GHFPD’s current mill levy was discussed, and Fourmile recommended that if we were interested in building our department that we should look at an increase. As a fire board we made our own decision regarding the projected mill levy increase outside of any recommendation made by Fourmile. The fire board’s decision to increase the mill levy was to assist with generating funds to more rapidly modernize and increase preparation for threats to the community. Reports of a mill levy increase for the purpose of a merger are dramatic rumors that unfortunately distract us from getting work done as a community. If a merger were being seriously considered it would be brought up in a fire board meeting and it would be more widely publicized. In addition, citizens and volunteers would have an opportunity to discuss this in a public setting that allowed for a debate. That is the complete story. The mill levy is not inspired to make Gold Hill more desirable to be ‘absorbed’ by other departments, it is inspired to help us build for the future. The larger mill levy is due to our low population and ability to generate funds. If incorrect information was disseminated regarding neighboring departments’ mill levies, then that is purely accidental.

        Last weekend two fireboard members sat in front of the Gold Hill General Store to have open conversations with community members about a mill levy increase. Information as to why we are looking for an increase was made public. One opportunity for use of increased mill levy funds was the possibility of hiring a full-time employee to assist with grants, inventory, mitigation, and operations. Creation of such a position would take time to build and to hire for and at this moment we don’t know what that would look like. As a department we are in a position where our Chief has provided many years of valuable service to this community, and we have been looking for volunteers to continue in his footsteps as officers and future Chiefs. Change of leadership is a common practice in the volunteer fire service and Chief Finn is aware that we’ve been looking for the past few years to find someone he can pass his knowledge to. We do have some volunteers who have been able to provide time to take on officer positions, but we currently have no volunteers able to commit to a Chief position. With that being said, if the opportunity arises that a permanent employee could be hired to act in a Chiefs role then the board would be open to that. Regardless, the funds are not earmarked for this purpose.

      The board’s primary focus is on community protection. The health, wellbeing, and prosperity of our community are integral. As a small mountain fire department our issues are not unique. We are facing a future of larger and faster growing wildfires, underfunding, older equipment, and less volunteers, paired with long response times from surrounding departments. To protect each other and our community we need to work together to cut through the drama and fake news and focus on the things we can control to find solutions together. We are saddened by the divisive rhetoric in the email that was sent. Overreactions and antagonism towards other volunteers, community members, and other departments, make us weaker, not wiser or stronger. We appreciate your time and attention to our response and encourage anyone reading to share our response and attend the upcoming board meeting which will be posted on the town website.

Thank you,

Rich Lopez, President, Gold Hill Fire Protection District Board of Directors