With all new members of the Rye Fire Protection District Board (RFPD) having been sworn in, it was time to elect the board officers for the coming year. The election, held during the meeting of July 18, resulted in Rich Simpson as Chairman, Mike Graber as Vice Chairman, and Wallace Rice as Treasurer.
RFPD will be implementing a new procedure every two weeks with different board members spending a few hours with Fire Chief Steve Bennett to go over paperwork and procedures. This will enable the board members to have a better understanding of daily operations.
Bennett advised the board of a capital project to be done at Station One in Rye. Pueblo County has donated a valuable truck equipped with features to handle hazardous material incidents. However, one of the conditions of the donation was that the truck is stored inside a building and it will not fit in the fire stations.
Bennett advised the 2002 model truck with only about 6000 hours on it is easily worth $650,000 even before it was equipped. And, as one of the primary Hazmat Responder teams in the area, RFPD desperately needs the truck. RFPD is the designated authority for primary hazmat for the Town of Rye and serves as hazmat responders for an area covering from State Hwy 10 (Walsenburg area) to Hwy 78 (Beulah Hwy).
Bennett suggests altering at least one door at Station One in Rye, so the door is big enough for the hazmat truck. He explained that there is plenty of room once the truck gets in the door but the current doors are only ten feet high and the truck is ten feet two inches. The board authorized Bennett to proceed in getting pricing on raising at least one and possibly all doors at the Rye Station to twelve feet. If alteration costs are under $15,000, the board authorized Bennet to proceed. If costs are higher, proper steps will be taken to discuss the matter.
Bennett also explained to the board that the department needs to purchase a power-operated cot to outfit the main ambulance. He advised that the manual cots they have are getting worn and do not work properly. This has resulted in one staff member currently being on worker's compensation. He does have maintenance scheduled for the manual cots, but feels they need a power cot.
Bennett presented the board with the options of buying a refurbished power cot for between $12,000 and $14,000, or purchasing a new cot that comes with a warranty for $19,000 to $20,000. The board agreed the purchase of a new cot vs a refurbished one is a smarter choice, and a motion to do so was passed.
In the Fire Chief’s report to the board, Bennet advised that staff training is ongoing as usual and that the department is well staffed with adequate coverage, although he would like to add paramedics to assure coverage.
Bennett discussed that RFPD has been covering and assisting with community events such as the baseball and softball games, and the recent slash drop-offs hosted by the Colorado City Metropolitan District. In June, RFPD covered 65 calls, 47 for emergency medical services, and 18 fire related.
Bennett requested the board to approve an extension for the current audit. He says the accountant feels they will be finished by the July 31 deadline, but they would like the extension until September 30 to be in place in case of unforeseen problems.