Editor’s Note: The date of the September FFPD meeting was changed and the NFH was not aware of the change, so this column was written from the notes of Gretchen Tetzlaff, FFPD office manager, who was present at the meeting.Phoenix AwardThe highlight of the Sept. 8 meeting of the Falcon Fire Protection District Board of Directors, which was held on the second Wednesday, rather than the third due to vacation conflicts, was the presentation of the Phoenix Award. The award is presented by Jon Webb, Emergency Medical Services division chief, to paramedics and civilians who have been instrumental in saving a life.Justin Thurston, paramedic; Danny Miller, firefighter/EMT; Travis Wright, firefighter/EMT; John Gue, driver operator/firefighter; and Lt. Travis Kuemmerle were presented the Phoenix Award by Webb because of their actions on May 9, when they were called to a cardiac arrest. When they arrived on the scene, they found Gene Robinson unresponsive and his wife, Janette Santos, administering CPR. The crew went to work providing advanced life support. Once the patient was stabilized, he was transported to the hospital where he was treated and later released. Santos also received the Phoenix Award. Webb credited the prompt response of Santos and the firefighters with saving Robinson’s life.Station propertyChief Trent Harwig informed the board that he had received a request from a real estate agent expressing interest in district land adjacent to the new station 3 and extending to New Meridian Road, The board will pursue the matter further at a later date.Financial reportThe chief noted that as of the end of August, 66.6% of the fiscal year has been completed. Revenues for the general fund were at 95% of the budgeted amount and expenditures were at 53%. The ambulance fund budget reported revenues of 60% and total expenditure of 55% of the budgeted amount. The capital improvement fund was at 23% of revenues and 41% of expenditures.Harwig said the preliminary budget of 2022 would be presented to the board by Oct. 15 for their consideration. He recommended that the current assessment rate of 14.886 mils be retained. He said there were 93 reserve standby hours in August.EMT reportWebb said there were 140 patient transports in August. The board unanimously voted to purchase another ambulance as an additional backup. Webb had no update on the COVID-19 situation other than the number of cases has been increasing and the military has made vaccination mandatory.New station 3Attorney Joan Fritsche said that the final payment will soon be made to Hammers Construction for the new station 3. Harwig said the new station is almost completed.New administration buildingFritsche said that iiCON Construction Group, the contractor for the new administration building, has been easy to work with.Other mattersFritsche advised the board that she has reviewed the station 1 utility easement with Woodmen Hills Metropolitan District and has submitted it to the county for recording.The review of the FFPD membersí handbook draft was tabled until the November meeting.The board meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss acquiring, leasing, transferring or selling any property related to station 1, as well as getting legal advice concerning station 1.
