FFPD May meeting
By Jon Huang
The Falcon Fire Protection District held its monthly board meeting May 21 at the Falcon Fire Administration Building at 7030 Old Meridian Road. Joan Fritsche, attorney; Tom Kerby, assistant secretary; Ray Hawkins, treasurer; James Reid, president; Dan Kupferer, vice president; Steve Podoll, secretary; Trent Harwig, chief, attended.
Election of board officers
The current board was approved in their current positions with the exception of Kupferer now serving as assistant secretary and Kerby serving as vice president.
April minutes
The board approved April minutes unanimously.
Swearing in of firefighter
Chief Harwig swore in new firefighter Brandon Reiss.
Treasurer’s
Harwig presented the numbers through April 2025, representing 33.3% of the fiscal year.
The general fund was at 46% of anticipated revenues. Total expenses were at 29% of expected.
The ambulance transport fund was at 28% of the expected revenues. Total expenses were at 29% of expected.
The capital project fund had received 26% of expected revenues. Total expenses were at 17% of expected.
The rural water fund had no new activity.
The board unanimously passed the report.
Staff report
Chief Jeff Petersma presented the operations report.
There were 375 total calls in March and 1,100 for the year, 873 belonging to the district. Average response times across all districts for February remained stable.
Chief Jon Webb presented the EMS report.
There were 129 transports in April, with an average cash per trip of $703.32. Year-to-date showed 584 transports and a cash per trip of $774.53. The 24-month average was $633.20 cash per trip. With the supplemental Medicaid reimbursement, cash per trip was $815.
Webb presented proposed rate increases in ambulance transport billing rates, beginning July 2025 as mentioned below, which places the department in the median in terms of costs when compared to other departments in El Paso County. The fees were proposed as followed:
Basic life support $1,500
Advanced life support 1 $1,700
Advanced life support 2 $2,000
Loaded mileage $27 per mile
The board unanimously passed a resolution to increase transport fees.
Sheriff’s Office Substation update
All agreements and easements have been signed by the appropriate parties. Kerby said that all involved parties agreed the driveway should be done in concrete and June 6 is the current groundbreaking date.
Authorized sale of excess equipment
Harwig said the board has two 2006 Ford F550 cab and flatbed trucks that they were planning to sell; one needs a new engine and another has an engine leak but is still functional. The board unanimously passed a motion to allow the department to sell the vehicles.
Sales tax election discussion
Because of the 2024 state legislation that caps collectable revenue, the district could get property tax assessment increase limits at 5.5% over a two-year average, Harwig initiated conversation about future funding sources that could include a potential sales tax. Kerby pointed out most of the revenue growth has been due to population growth rather than rising property tax assessments. Reid expressed concern about future taxes that the county may enact that might conflict with this. Currently, the district is in good financial standing and does not expect the 5.5% property tax increase limit to affect its revenues in the immediate future.
The next meeting is June 18.
Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection District
- Website: http://www.falconfirepd.org
- Facebook: Falcon Fire Department
- Twitter: @FalconFireDept
- NextDoor.com
