RYE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
The Rye Fire Protection District (RFPD) meeting of August 15 was brief with a full quorum present and items of business moved rapidly.
Fire Chief Bennett reported that RFPD staffing is good at this time. He has two new paramedics starting and one person off on workman's compensation, but they are able to cover all shifts. He did advise that several fire departments and ambulance companies plan to be hiring in the near future. Bennett hopes that there will not be much staff turnover.
Board member Austin Clennin asked why there are not volunteers in the department like there used to be. Bennett explained that newer insurance regulations make it hard to have volunteers. He advised that every person working is required to have a full setup of gear which is too expensive for most volunteers to provide.
Chief Bennett explained that, while emergency services billing is down about 34% due to not transporting all patients that they go out on calls to assist, bank balances are looking good due to the higher amount of tax money received this year.
The door at Station 1 that needs to be enlarged to get the new fire truck in was discussed. Bennett asked board member Mike Graber if he thought the doorway could be enlarged and an additional panel added to the recently purchased door. Graber acknowledged he had looked at the project and felt it could be done, and suggested getting the additional door panel ordered soon as they are hard to get.
Options to store the new fire truck until the door work can be done were also discussed. The truck was a gift to RFPD and one of the conditions in receiving the gift was that the truck had to be stored inside. The truck is too large to go through the door of the station. Board members are working to find a solution fast so that the truck can be stored inside.
Bennett advised that a power cot has been ordered, as discussed last meeting, for the main ambulance and the existing cots have been serviced and are waiting for springs to come in.
Bennett reported that the audit is nearly done. Chairman Rich Simpson reminded Bennett that they did not want to have to ask for an audit extension in the future. The extension was filed this year due to a new CPA firm doing the financial reports which had to be entered and set up from the beginning.
Eight Interagency Incident Management people will have the Incident Management position contracts discontinued at the end of the year. Bennett does not feel those positions are necessary any longer.
The board then went into an executive session.
The next RFPD meeting will be held on September 19, at 5:00 p.m., at the Colorado City Metropolitan District Office.