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OCN > 2304 > Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, March 15 – Board of Directors election canceled

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, March 15 – Board of Directors election canceled

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, March 15 – Board of Directors election canceled

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) meeting on March 15, the board heard the 2023 Board of Directors election had been canceled and that a new recruit had dropped out of firefighter training.

Note: The meeting was held in person in the boardroom at Station 1 due to the remodel of the community room.

Board of Directors election

Administrative Officer Rachel Dunn said the 2023 Board of Directors election had been canceled because there were only two candidates for two seats, saving the district $18,000. The paperwork had been filed with the state. The two incumbent self-nominees Treasurer Jack Hinton and Vice Chairman James Abendschan will serve four-year terms, she said.

Board Secretary Donna Arkowski said the two board members will be sworn in at the May 17 meeting.

Financial report

Hinton said the district received about $1.488 million in property taxes in March, and it is expected to receive about $77,000 for wildland deployments. The district had a total of about $3.475 million in total assets at the end of February. The largest expenditure was $25,840 for structural Personal Protective Equipment.

The board unanimously accepted the financial report as presented.

2022 audit engagement letter

After the meeting, Dunn confirmed to OCN that earlier in March the district had engaged Schilling & Company Inc., Highlands Ranch, to conduct the 2022 audit. See www.ocn.me/v23n3.htm#bffrpd.

Tender sale discussion

Fire Chief PJ Langmaid said the tender truck sale discussion, although posted on the agenda, was postponed until further information on the market for tender sales could be provided to the board.

Note: The district is expecting to receive a new tender later in the year.

Department report

Dunn said the district received about $21,552 in ambulance revenue and there were no notable expenses for February. The remodel of the community room at Station 1 is still in progress, and the district is still waiting for an inspection to install a gas meter in the barn at Station 1.

Note: The district is installing heating in the barn at Station 1 to create a workshop for the district mechanic.

Recruitment update

Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg said the district had two new recruits enrolled in the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) Fire Academy.

Langmaid said the district hired three new recruits, but one quit the academy quickly. The district is changing its hiring process to avoid a future recurrence of issues with high altitude adjustment. The district conducts a nationwide hiring process, and an offer of employment was made to the next candidate on the list, he said.

Piepenburg also said:

  • The district assisted Falcon Fire Protection District with a barn fire.
  • The district assisted CSFD with a 15-foot trench rescue after a worker had fallen into it.
  • The on-duty crews received “Blue Card” command training to ensure the district is using the same language as neighboring departments.
  • Several staff members received their Ice-Rescue Certification at Fountain Fire Protection District.
  • The district completed a total of 1,452 hours of training in February.
  • Wildland Deployment requests for assistance are expected in the coming months.
  • The district’s Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Air-Pak units were flow tested.

El Paso County Emergency Incident Support

El Paso County Emergency Incident Support (EPCEIS) President Gary Nelson announced the organization supported on average about one incident per week in 2022. EPCEIS also provides support during firefighter training and open houses. With 36 active members, the organization is available 24/7, 365 days a year, he said.

Chairman Nate Dowden thanked Nelson and his organization for the continued support.

Langmaid said the department had partnered with EPCEIS in the past and donated an ambulance to the organization in September 2020. EPCEIS volunteers provide countywide food and shelter to first responders in all weather conditions, he said.

For more information on the 501c non-profit volunteer organization, visit https://epceis.com.

Public comment

Two residents of Arrowhead and Mountain View Drives voiced concern over first responder access, the planned paving of Howells Road, the anticipated increased traffic due to new developments, and the two neighboring District 20 schools that would further burden Old Ranch Road.

Langmaid said Howells Road had been annexed into the City of Colorado Springs, and the intent is to pave the road. He said he had received telephone calls on the subject recently and he advised the residents to reach out to the City Council members, the mayor, and the planners.

Dowden thanked the residents for voicing their concerns and said he wished the board could help, but the problems were out of the fire district’s and board’s responsibility.

One resident asked if placing a cistern on her property would be helpful.

Langmaid said water is always helpful to firefighters, and he directed the resident to research cistern recommendations at www.bffire.org.

Executive session

The board moved into an executive session at 7:31 p.m. pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-6-402(3.a.V.), for the purpose of discussing compensation matters that may be subject to negotiations with employees or employee organizations.

Dowden said before the executive session that no action would be taken.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month at Station 1, 11455 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit www.bffire.org or contact Administrative Officer Rachel Dunn at admin@bffire.org or call 719-495-4300.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

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