Monument Fire District, June 25 – Board vacancy filled; workforce study approved

Board director vacancy decision
Financial update
Property inclusion petitions
2024 audit presentations
Workforce analysis study
Sun Hills Property
Station 2 remodel update
Chief’s report
Department communications
Volunteer Pension Fund Board of Trustees meeting

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting on June 25, the board filled the vacant board position, approved funding for a workforce analysis study, and received presentations on the MFD and the Donald Wescott Fire Protection District (DWFPD) 2024 audits. The board received multiple updates and heard about the search for an accreditation manager and the delay in re-occupying the remodeled Station 2 (north Roller Coaster Road).

The board also held a public hearing before approving an inclusion of property, accepted a petition for an inclusion of property, and set a public hearing for July 23.

The meeting was preceded by a MFD (formerly DWFPD) Volunteer Pension Fund Board of Trustees meeting.

Director Randall Estes attended the meeting at 4:40 p.m.

Board director vacancy decision

President Mark Gunderman said the board had reviewed letters of interest from Tim De Leon and Andre Mouton as potential candidates willing to serve the remaining two years of former board Secretary Jason Buckingham’s term.

Both candidates introduced themselves, gave career and neighborhood background information, and answered several questions from board members relating to availability to attend meetings and why they want to serve the community.

Vice President John Hildebrandt said, “It was like the National Football League draft, a difficult decision, both great candidates, and in two years another board vacancy will become available; the district would love to have both candidates.”

In a 4-2 vote (Treasurer Tom Kelly/Estes) the board elected De Leon, deputy chief of Colorado Springs Fire Department.

Note: All seven board members reside in unincorporated El Paso County, with four members residing in the former DWFPD area of coverage.

Financial update

Kelly said the district is at 41.6% of the total budget year to date as of May 31, and presented the following:

The combined overall revenue received year to date was about $12.922 million, or about 53.3% of the 2025 income projected annual revenue set at about $24.235 million.
Overall expenses year to date were about $7.412 million, and about 39.5% of the projected expense budget set at about $18.764 million.
The district had about $22.182 million in total checking/savings with about $16.981 million in the General Operations Fund.

The board accepted the financial report as presented, 5-0

Property inclusion petitions

Gunderman opened a public hearing for a petition for the inclusion of real property into the district, for joint owners Chad Calvert and Sara Hagedorn, for 0 Walker Road, Colorado Springs, or 4165 Vista Heights Drive, Colorado Springs (pending). Hearing no opposition, in a roll call vote the board unanimously approved Resolution 2025-06 granting the inclusion into the district.

The board unanimously accepted a petition for inclusion from Walton Ranch LLC located at 16750 Thompson Road, Colorado Springs, and set a public hearing date for July 23 at 4:30 p.m.

2024 audit presentations

The board received the 2024 audit presentations for DWFPD and MFD from auditor Mitchell Downs of CBIZ. Downs said the document was still in draft form and will undergo three more reviews before being finalized. He said a lot of hard work had gone into the audit compared to previous years, and the presentation was at the request of Director of Administration Jennifer Martin, however no major changes were anticipated.

Martin requested Downs forward a letter to confirm no other issues are found when the audits are finalized.

Workforce analysis study

Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said as part of the accreditation peer team evaluation in May, one of the recommendations was to add staff to help with the burden of all the administrative duties and relieve some of the workload, recommending an administrative assistant to support Martin. When the district seeks accreditation in August, the board will expect to see some recommendations implemented. He said the study would be looking at the following additional positions:

Eliminate the rotating executive battalion chief position and replace with a division chief of Operations position to reduce the fire chief’s span of control.
Two fire inspectors for 2025 to assist Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction Jonathan Bradley with the Wildland Urban Interface home and commercial building inspections, and public education events.
A part-time or full-time administrative assistant in 2025 to assist the director of Administration position.
Internal IT director to support the accreditation manager.
A district mechanic to maintain the fleet.

Kovacs requested the board approve MiXx Consulting to perform a workforce analysis, not to exceed $20,000, with funding sourced from the administrative expenses/consulting fees budget.

The board unanimously approved the study.

Sun Hills Property

Gunderman said he and Kovacs had discussed the sale of 15000 Sun Hills Drive, the former DWFPD Station 3. Former Wescott Director Charles Fleece had asked about the status of the property. When the district moves into 19775 Mitchell Ave. this year, the Sun Hills property will not be needed for storage, and it is a liability for the district to keep it, Gunderman said. There are no restrictions to selling the property, but the Sun Hills HOA has concerns over the sale of a small parcel property that could lead to 5-acre lots being subdivided. The homeowners association board may have an interest in purchasing the property for a community center if they can meet the price. The property was assessed at about $400,000 during the merger process, said Gunderman. See https://wp.ocn.me.v24n7mfd.

Kovacs said the board may want to consider the impact to Emergency Incident Support, a non-profit group using the property for vehicle and supply storage.

Station 2 remodel update

Division Chief of Administration Jamey Bumgarner said due to the HVAC system not cooling correctly, the re-occupy of Station 2 has been delayed. The final punch list is 98% complete and crews will move in when fully completed, he said.

Chief’s report

Kovacs said:

The district is actively recruiting for the accreditation manager position and has received several applications. The position is being vacated by Battalion Chief Scott Ridings, who is retiring from duty on Aug. 9.
Lt. Kevin Richmond will retire on July 31 after over 30 years with 15 served in district.
The district staff completed 656 hours of training in May.
A new ambulance has been received to replace the 6-year-old ambulance at Station 5. The front-line ambulance will be placed into reserve with about 300,000 miles on the odometer.

Note: The chief’s report can be found at www.monumentfire.org.

Department communications

Gunderman thanked board Chair Kiersten Tarvainen of Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) for attending the meeting and said he plans to attend the July 16 BFFRPD Board of Directors meeting in an effort to keep the lines of communication open between the two boards.

The meeting adjourned at 6:09 p.m.

Volunteer Pension Fund Board of Trustees meeting

Trustee Mike Badger said that legally the former DWFPD Volunteer Pension Fund (VPF) is now known as the TLMFPD VPF, as indicated on the financial packet the board received before the meeting. The financial packet was incomplete without the allocation report, and after speaking to the Firefighters Police Pension Association before the meeting, no one has access to the report, but that will be rectified, said Badger.

Badger also said:

The pension fund began 2024 at $914,896 and ended the year at $927,462, with a $12,565 increase for the year.
Due to all of the volatility in the stock market in the first quarter of 2025, the pension fund is at $912,849, likely due to investments.
In the past the pension fund has been gaining funds, but the pension is stock market dependent and will fluctuate.
Another former volunteer has become age eligible for a pension and he has applied for a pension. There is one other former volunteer eligible to apply in a couple of years.

By the time the board meets again on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m., the second- and third-quarter figures should be available, along with the actuarial study. In the interim if any other information becomes available, the board will be forwarded the information, said Badger.

The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 23 at 4:30 p.m. at Station 1, 18650 Highway 105. For Microsoft Teams virtual joining instructions, agendas, minutes, and updates, visit www.monumentfire.org or contact Director of Administration Jennifer Martin at 719-484-9011.

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