The Falcon Fire Protection District held its regular board meeting Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Station 1 meeting room. Thomas Kerby, Dan Kupferer and Cory Galicia were present in person. Mike Collins and Ray Hawkins conferenced in. Also present were Fire Chief Trent Harwig and attorney Joan Fritsche, legal counsel for the district.Treasurerís reportHarwig presented the treasurerís report and said that 66.7% of the fiscal year was complete as of Aug. 31. The general fund had received 96% of budgeted revenues and expenditures across the categories were at 55%. Harwig pointed out that the FFPD is about 10% under budget in the general fund. The ambulance transport fund has received 59% of budgeted revenues; and, across all expenditures, categories are at 54%. The capital projects fund is at 51% revenue (next quarterly transfer from the general fund will happen next month) and total expenses across all categories are at 4%. There was no activity in the rural water fund.Kerby asked about plans for capital equipment and purchasing a ladder truck. Harwig said the trucks cost around $1.3 million and could be considered in next yearís budget. Harwig said the new ambulance should be placed in service by the end of the year. Kerby also mentioned budgeting for a maintenance building and Harwig said funds wonít be spent this year as the plans need changes but he was hopeful to get it approved by the county for the next phase.Staff/operations reportsHarwig said preliminary numbers from the county reflect the reduced residential assessment rate per Colorado SB-293 bill passed in 2021. He said that next year will be the first year the district will not receive any revenues from Shiloh Mesa neighborhood, which was annexed by Colorado Springs and is no longer in the Falcon Fire Protection District. The net result of both is a $156,000 loss of tax revenue that the district will have to make up. Regarding budgeting for capital equipment for next year, Harwig said that workersí compensation claims were significantly up this year and that will mean a $55,000 increase in workersí comp insurance next year. Once the administrative building is up and running, there will be an opportunity to reassign people to light duty positions and reduce workersí compensation claims expenses.Deputy Chief Jeff Petersma was not present so Harwig reported there were 393 total calls in July and 2,480 total alarms year to date. The average response time varied per district, with District 1 having the most calls and a five minute, 27 seconds average response time. District 5 had an18-minute response time. The average for the districts is nine minutes, 26 seconds ó same as 2021. Battalion Chief Joseph Cosgrove added that mutual aid calls in July increased aid given to Ellicott because of crashes at RAM Off-Road Park and Aztec Raceway.EMS Division Chief Jon Webb reported that August had 151 transports ó Ellicott and Cimarron Hills assists contributed to the high numbers. Twenty-four months collections are at $1.658 million. The year to date transports are 1,120. The per trip collection is $558.96.Webb said FFPD submitted a Medicaid supplemental reimbursement application last September, provided detailed data on calls, overhead, expenses; and found out last week that the district will receive $388,000 for Medicaid reimbursement out of $34 million issued to various departments in Colorado. There is no foreseeable end to this reimbursement funding. Harwig said that it is federal funding administered by the state of Colorado. The district will be applying each year for this funding. Webb provided a detailed reimbursement breakout: Medicare 29%, Medicaid 19%, private insurance 21%.Attorney reportHarwig said Joan Fritsche, legal counsel, would receive an October preliminary budget by email. Fritsche stressed the due date of Jan. 31 to file the certified copy of the budget with the state. She updated the board regarding legislative developments, and Collins inquired about ìdissolution of districtsî legislation. She clarified that the legislation was bringing county on par with municipalities, which previously had authority to dissolve districts while counties did not. It applied to districts eligible for administrative dissolution and not active districts.Administrative buildingKerby said the general contractor feels that the building can be temporarily heated with one zone heater until the other three RTUs (HVAC systems) arrive from Trane. The tentative time of arrival for the units is Oct. 10; however, dates have changed from this vendor in the past. Because of this development, there is no date for an open house at this time. Kerby felt confident the next board meeting could be held at the new building.The next meeting is Oct. 19. Check with the FFPD for a place and time.
