The Falcon Fire Protection District held its regular board meeting Oct. 17. All board members were present, with Greg Heule participating via teleconference.Treasurerís reportChief Trent Harwig reported that the fiscal year is 75 percent complete, with expenditures at 76 percent of the total budget. Expenditures are still projected to be under the budgeted amount at the end of the year.Currently, Rural Water Fund monies are held in the general fund account. The board approved the creation of a separate account for the Rural Water Fund to increase transparency.The board discussed the logistics and budgeting of installing a dry hydrant at a pond in the Spirit Lakes subdivision to provide an additional water resource for the fire district. This is an opportune time to install the hydrant since the pond is at its lowest level in many years; however, the funding is not in this yearís budget. FFPD will coordinate the project with the Spirit Lakes board, and hopes to accomplish this installation early in 2013.Chiefís reportFFPD currently has 61 members (33 paid and part-time; 28 volunteer reserves). Reserve hours are down but will come back up when the new lateral reserve candidates complete their academy. One reason for the lower numbers is that the district hired some of the reserves who contributed the most hours.Two candidates have withdrawn from the lateral academy. Six candidates remain and are expected to complete training by the end of October.Chief Harwig is monitoring a potential issue regarding the Emergency Services Agency contract. The ESA board, which monitors the American Medical Response contract for ambulance service in El Paso County and the city of Colorado Springs, has given AMR a two-year contract extension. The county commissioners have approved the contract, but the City Council has tabled it twice. Colorado Springs is asking AMR for $2 million to $2.4 million to continue operating in the city. The funding could be potentially provided by reducing the duplication of services, such as dispatch; reducing the number of AMR employees and reimbursing the city to use their personnel ñ or other means aside from a cash payment. How this situation will affect the ESA contract countywide remains to be seen. Harwig said, ìWe may see no changes, we may see the city run their own transport.î FFPDís ESA contract is good through December 2013 and will automatically renew until the contract is terminated by FFPD.The board discussed a proposal to trade three older FFPD 800 megahertz portable radios to Ellicott Fire Department in exchange for three of its UHF radios. FFPD has been upgrading its 800 mHz radios and has cached older radios that are serviceable but no longer being used. The swap will improve radio communications between the two departments. These radios were not purchased with any grant funds. The board approved selling or trading three of FFPDís cached portable radios to Ellicott F.D.Strategic plan updateThe strategic plan is still in progress. A draft will be completed prior to the next board meeting.2009 International Fire CodeFFPD was contacted by the Colorado Springs Housing & Building Association Oct. 16. HBA has had comments from the FFPD regarding the 2009 International Fire Code for about 90 days. HBA has asked its members to have their comments back by Oct. 31. Meanwhile, an HBA representative has asked to meet with a member or designee of each fire district involved. A meeting has been set for the last week of October so HBA and fire district representatives can review and discuss comments to gain a better understanding on both sides. It will probably be several months before the 2009 IFC is once again in front of the county commissioners.Water study participationThe Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Management District is seeking wells to test as part of a study to assess water quality and availability in the Black Squirrel Basin aquifer. FFPD has three wells in the test area. The board discussed participating in this project pending review by FFPD legal counsel.2013 budgetA preliminary budget for 2013 was delivered to the board prior to the Oct. 15 statutory deadline. A public hearing on the budget will be held Dec. 3.Some of the 2013 capital budget items include continuation of Station 3 upgrades; computer upgrades; replacement of the cascade system used to refill firefighter self-contained breathing apparatus bottles; gas detection monitors; scene lighting; mobile and portable radios; VHF repeater and licensing (to allow for backup communications in the event the 800 mHz radio system goes down); and structural firefighting gear.TABOR requires a reserve of 3 percent. FFPD has maintained a three-month reserve for almost 11 years and would like to increase the reserve to six months and eventually to one year.Vacant board positionThree applications for the vacant board position have been received from Dick Stuart, Henry Allen and Mike Collins. The board will interview applicants at the regular November board meeting, make its selection in executive session and swear in the appointee. This position will be filled until May 2014, and then will be an elected two-year term.November board meetingThe Nov. 21 meeting will be held as scheduled with no exception made for the Thanksgiving holiday.
