The Falcon Fire Protection District held its regular monthly board meeting Oct. 19. All board members were present.Treasurerís reportFire Chief Trent Harwig reported that the fiscal year was 75 percent complete as of Sept. 30. The district has received 98 percent of budgeted revenue while expenditures are at 63 percent. Harwig noted there are still some larger expenses ahead, but he still expects to be under budget at the end of the year.StatisticsFFPD responded to 163 calls for service during the month of September, compared to 150 in September 2015. This marks the fifth month in a row that the monthly call volume was greater than the corresponding month in 2015. The year-to-date total of 1,554 incidents represents a 6.6 percent increase over the same period in 2015.Highway 24/Old Meridian Road intersection redesignDirector Tom Kerby reported that the U.S. Highway 24 and Old Meridian Road redesign project is entering its final design phase but may not begin until late 2017. County project funding has apparently been resolved, but there are still some utilities issues.Station 3 asphalt repairsThe board discussed options related to the deteriorating asphalt in Station 3ís driveway and parking lot. Directors had hoped to coordinate repair or replacement with the Highway 24/Old Meridian Road reconfiguration, but delays with that project make it necessary to address the issue now. Harwig will obtain estimates for asphalt repair and replacement.Related to repairs, Harwig suggested the board develop a strategic plan for Station 3. The building is 35 years old and still in good shape, but the district also needs administrative offices. Considerations include whether Station 3ís current location is still adequate for the districtís needs; if a new station would be more cost effective than an extensive remodel of the existing building; where to locate an administrative building if one were to be built; and the potential commercial value of the Station 3 property.Station 4As of Oct. 19, the roof was almost completed. Contractors were finishing base plumbing, and the slab was scheduled to be poured within a few days. There have been no change orders.Workersí Compensation Wage Continuation ProgramThe board authorized a change in the districtís Workers’ Compensation Wage Continuation Program. The district will now continue to pay wages for employees on workersí comp and then be reimbursed by the workers’ compensation program. Previously, the employee received payment directly from workersí comp.Harwig said although the district has had employees for a long time, there have been no extended work comp situations until this year. He said the new arrangement simplifies the process by which the district pays employee benefits while an employee is on workersí comp, and also eliminates delays in paying employee wages. All workersí comp requirements must still be met prior to an employee returning to duty.SDA conferenceDirector Mike Collins attended the Special District Association conference. He brought back information on risk management, impact fees, post-traumatic stress in first responders and new drug testing processes.Draft 2017 budgetHarwig reported that the 2017 draft budget was sent to board members by Oct. 15, as required by statute. Assessed property values are estimated to increase by about 4 percent, according to information provided by the county in August. Station 4 expenses, including utilities and insurance, have been factored into the budget. Health insurance increased by a modest 1.5 percent, but workersí compensation premiums for fire departments are expected to increase by 10 to 20 percent next year because of required coverage for job-related cancers.Harwig said the district will hire additional full-and-part-time firefighters to staff Station 4 and meet a staffing goal of three firefighters per station on duty at all times. Harwig said the district can only afford two full-time firefighters per station and must rely on part-timers and reservists to meet staffing objectives. For example, he said adding nine full-time firefighters (one for each of three shifts at three fire stations) would cost the district an additional $550,000 for the first year. To staff four full-time firefighters per station would cost the district an additional $1.1 million per year to start.With the opening of Station 4, the district will create three new captain positions. Each captain will be assigned to a different shift, with one per station to oversee buildings and grounds, part-time staffing and a special program.Harwig said there is no plan to fill the fire marshal position for at least the next year.Harwig will create a 20-year sustainability plan for capital assets replacement and other long-term needs.Falcon BroadbandHarwig said that options for digital services such as telephone and Internet are ìsurprisingly challengingî for Station 4. Falcon Broadband is willing to run a fiber optic line to the new fire station and also improve service at Stations 1 and 3, but they want FFPD to sign a five-year contract to offset the cost. Based on a recommendation from legal counsel, the board unanimously voted to approve the contract.
