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Monument Fire District, Feb. 25 – Fire Station 3 sale approved

Highlights

  • The Monument Fire District approved the sale of Fire Station 3 to Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District for $1.260 million with a one-year lease of $145,728 to allow occupancy during the rebuild, which is planned to be completed by March 15, 2027.
  • The board also approved a lease extension option of up to one additional year at not less than $12 per square foot if the rebuild overruns.
  • The rebuild contractor mobilization is set for March 9, with a groundbreaking on March 25 and public hearings for Station 1 Training Center planned March 11 and April 6, aiming for completion and training readiness by late 2027.
  • The executive recruitment for a new fire chief is underway with Prothman; a posting will go live on Feb. 26, interviews start in April, and the selected candidate could begin around July/August with a salary of $210,000–$235,000 plus benefits.
  • Treasurer's report shows 8.3% of the year complete as of Jan. 31, with year-to-date income around $263,395 and projected 2026 revenue near $24 million; expenses around $2.057 million and a budgeted $21.984 million, with $33.211 million in total liquid assets.
  • The board discussed retiree healthcare options, with efforts to explore feasibility and potential plans for retirees, noting current district healthcare costs and the lack of a retiree plan; two directors volunteered to assist in exploring options.

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Editor’s note: OCN needs a volunteer to cover Monument Fire District meetings. We will train you! Contact John Heiser at 719-488-3455.

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By Natalie Barszcz

At the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District (TLMFPD) dba Monument Fire District (MFD) meeting via Microsoft Teams on Feb. 25, the board approved a purchase agreement for the sale of Fire Station 3 to Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD). The board recognized outgoing board Director Tom Kelly and held an election for the treasurer position. The board approved the fire chief job description and position profile for the fire chief recruitment search, received a copy of the 2025 MFD Annual Report, and heard about a request by the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Monument Local 4319 to explore the possibility of a retiree healthcare coverage benefit.

Director Michael Smaldino was excused.

Fire Station 3 sale agreement

Chief of Administration Jamey Bumgarner requested the board approve the sale of Fire Station 3 at 1855 Woodmoor Drive to WWSD No. 1 for $1.260 million and a lease agreement of $145,728 (for one year) to continue occupying the property until the rebuild of Fire Station 3 is completed at 17320 Jackson Creek Parkway (north of the Tri-Lakes YMCA). Should the rebuild take longer, the district could continue leasing the station for up to an additional year for not less than $12 per square foot. The rebuild is expected to be completed on March 15, 2027.

In a 6-0 vote, the board approved the sale and the lease agreement.

Bumgarner said the general contractor for the rebuild of the station will be ready to mobilize on March 9, and a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for March 25 at 1 p.m. For further details about the site planning, see the WWSD article on page < 13 >.

Station 1 Training Center update

Bumgarner said public hearings are scheduled for the Fire Station 1 Training Center development with the Monument Planning Commission on March 11 and the Town Council on April 6. Delivery of the tower structure is expected by the end of September or early October and ready for training purposes in November.

Recruitment update

Fire Chief Andy Kovacs said the executive recruitment for the fire chief position was underway by Prothman Executive Recruitment, and he requested the board approve the job description and position profile presented, allowing Prothman to advertise the position on Feb. 26. The candidate interview process will begin in April, followed by the Board of Directors’ selection process from a short list of candidates in May, said Kovacs.

The candidate will be ready to join the organization in July/August with a salary of $210,000-$235,000 plus benefits. At the October meeting, Kovacs announced his plan to retire from the fire service at the end of 2026.

The board approved the job description for posting.

Financial update

Treasurer Kelly said the district is at 8.3% of the total budget year to date as of Jan. 31, and he highlighted some of the following from the financial report:

  • The combined overall income received year to date was about $263,395. The projected income revenue for 2026 is set at about $24 million.
  • Overall expenses were about $2.057 million and 9.4% of the projected expense budget set at about $21.984 million.
  • The total checking/savings was about $33.211 million, with about $8.287 million in the Operations/General Fund. The balance includes loan proceeds of about $18.133 million in Bank of Oklahoma financing for the Fire Station 3 rebuild.

Kelly said the district will receive a large input of expected property tax revenue in March, and all 25 electronic transactions were appropriate and within budget. Of note was about $1.639 million to Land Title Guarantee for the Fire Station 3 land purchase and $152,000 to PNC Equipment for the annual lease payment on the tower ladder truck.

The board voted 6-0 to accept the financial report as presented.

Board director recognized

Kovacs recognized Kelly for his dedicated service and leadership to the district since 2019 and said, “It was not uncommon for Kelly to sit down and discuss matters in his office on many occasions.”

Above: From left, Treasurer Tom Kelly receives a plaque for his dedicated service and leadership from Fire Chief Andy Kovacs on behalf of the district during a recognition of service to the district at Fire Station 1 on Feb. 25. IAFF Monument L4319 President/Engineer Christian Schmidt (not pictured) also recognized Kelly with a commemorative statue depicting a firefighter on behalf of Local 4319. Photo by Jennifer Martin.

IAFF Monument L4319 President/Engineer Christian Schmidt presented Kelly with a commemorative statue and said, “Kelly’s time serving on the board has truly mattered.”

Kelly said he hopes that the district “continues to shine.” Kelly is moving out of the district.

Director updates

President Mark Gunderman welcomed Steve Phillips as the new board director, replacing Kelly. Gunderman asked if any director was willing to take on the role of treasurer, but hearing no offers, said he would ask Smaldino to consider the role.

Retiree healthcare presentation

In a room well-attended by firefighters and family members, Firefighter Rudi Gillette (with 24 years’ service in the district) requested that the board explore options for the potential implementation of an employer retirement healthcare benefit plan for firefighters and spouses. Gillette said the district does not currently offer a healthcare plan for retirees, but most firefighters retire between the ages of 45 and 55 after a tough career on bodies that take a beating up to retirement. Currently, no other fire department offers a retiree healthcare plan in El Paso County; however, Frederick-Firestone Fire District does offer one should the board need a comparison plan, said Gillette.

Kovacs said the district provides 95% of the current healthcare plan costs to all employees, spouses, and dependents, with a 5% employee contribution that includes dental and eye exams while employed by the district.

Vice President John Hildebrandt said, it would be great if we could do it, but the costs would be dictated by the plan provider, with no control by the district for a period of 10 years or more before Medicare “kicks in.”

Gunderman said retiree healthcare plans for local government are usually offered to front-line firefighters and police officers, and not for all positions within departments. The board should explore retiree healthcare benefit plan costs at a minimum, if it is affordable and sustainable, said Gunderman.

Gillette requested two members of the board volunteer to explore plan options. Directors André Mouton and Duane Garrett agreed to assist with the request.

Chief’s report

Division Chief of Operations Janaka Branden presented the chief’s report. The report and the 2025 Annual Report can be viewed at www.monumentfire.org.

The meeting adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 25 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.

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