The Falcon Fire Protection District began its February board meeting by welcoming two new lieutenants to the district. Matthew Gortner and Curtis Kauffman, two seasoned firefighters, were sworn in by Chief Trent Harwig.Gortner previously worked for the Cimarron Hills Fire Dept. as a line lieutenant, acting deputy chief of operations and training officer. He brings 13 years of firefighting experience to the FFPD.Kauffman most recently served as the fire marshal for the Tri Lakes Fire District. His father, Vern, was one of the original volunteer firefighters for the FFPD and his mother, Esther, served with the district as well. Kauffman brings 31 years of firefighting experience with him.The board also discussed the fire code adoption issue and several in-house issues such as updating the member’s handbook and the 2012 pay leave and allowance schedule.2009 International Fire Code adoption updateAfter the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners pulled the request for the approval of the 2009 International Fire Code from its Jan. 17 consent calendar, each stakeholder like the FFPD was scheduled to meet with a facilitator to allow the community to participate in the discussion. The FFPD set up a meeting with facilitator Tim Wolken, El Paso County Community Services director, for Feb. 23. (The outcome will be reported in the April issue of the NFH.)Related to concerns the BOCC voiced regarding the 2009 IFC, the Senate introduced a bill that would prevent any jurisdiction from imposing sprinkler regulations. Senate Bill 12-081 states, ìSB 12-081 prohibits local governments from adopting building ordinances that require homebuilders to install fire-protection sprinkler systems in new single-family dwellings.îThe bill was taken up by the Senate Local Government Committee and killed Feb. 16 by a 3-2 vote. Board member election updateHarwig said the call for nominations for the May 8 board member election has been posted. So far, the district has received one nomination. If more than three nominations are received, the district will hold an election. If fewer than three are received, there will be no need for an election, Harwig said. Director Dan Kupferer said he would like to run again, but he hadn’t officially thrown his hat in the ring as of this meeting.Health and wellness program updateKupferer updated the board about the progress of implementing a health and wellness program for the district. They are forming a committee in February. ìWe hope to have something to bring to the board in March with the option to move on it in April,î Kupferer said.2012 pay, leave and allowance schedule updateThe board approved the 2012 pay, leave and allowance schedule, which changes the terminology of sick leave and vacation leave to ìpaid time off.îìIt may seem like less leave time, but what we’re doing is trying to encourage you (firefighters) to use your sick time,î Harwig said. ìIt also prevents first-and-second-year employees from accruing three weeks of sick time in those first two years.îOther newsDuring the public comment portion of the meeting, the district presented firefighter Matt Seube with an award for his hard work and dedication related to the success of the mill levy vote last November.
