MINDY LEARY
GILPIN COUNTY – Timberline Board Vice Chairman John Bushey called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. at Station 3. Shortly afterward the board voted to move the Executive Session to the start of the agenda.
Legal counsel from Krische Construction Inc. joined the meeting to discuss change orders related to the Station 3 Bay Addition project.
Treasurer’s report and audit contract
After returning to open session, the board reviewed unaudited financials for October 2025 with no major issues reported.
Next, members discussed the 2025 Audit Contract with Adams Group, LLC, listed at $18,400, close to last year’s $17,800.
Chairman Rick Wenzel remarked, “That’s doubled since we started this whole thing, hasn’t it?” Fire Chief Paul Ondr added that next year’s audit will not be a single audit because of recent federal funding. The board approved the contract unanimously.
District reserves
The board revisited reserve use discussed at the November workshop. Ondr said, “It’s all dependent on who pays what when.”
Wenzel asked how much the district keeps in reserve, and both Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman and Ondr confirmed that about $500,000 is usually retained, though some of that is restricted.
To maintain operations while waiting on accounts receivable, Member at Large John Carder moved to transfer $200,000 from reserves for operational expenses only, to be repaid by May 1, 2026, after tax revenues arrive. All members approved.
Capital projects
Ondr said crews are still finishing excavation and retaining walls for the Station 3 Bay Addition, with building installation expected around November 21 to 25. “Anticipated completion date is February 25,” he said.
Two bathrooms on the main level are nearly complete, though one is awaiting a new ADA-compliant door. Work continues on the upper and basement levels, including installation of a new shower stall and sprinkler system.
A change order related to an error in the soil report required importing fill material instead of using on-site soil, resulting in a cost of $59,149.44. Carder moved to approve the change; Kristin Turner seconded; all voted in favor.
Chief’s report
Ondr reported 55 calls in October, including the Caribou Village Shopping Center fire in Nederland on October 9.
Under operations, he noted that the replacement generator for Station 5 should arrive this week and added that having an in-house mechanic has greatly streamlined minor repairs. The Fritz Peak outbuilding has also been secured.
Wildland and mitigation work included completion of a seven-acre Boulder Watershed project in Porter Ranch, community outreach near Station 1 about future grant projects, and finishing mitigation along Gilpin Road and Wedgewood. “Gilpin County 2025 funding will be exhausted in the next week or two,” Ondr said.
The district was not selected for its $800,000 Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise (NDME) grant request, but has applied for $385,000 through FRWRM, which requires a 50 percent match from homeowners and other sources. Pre-award announcements are expected February 11, 2026. An AIM (Action, Implementation, and Mitigation) grant application was also submitted to cover half of the Mitigation Coordinator’s salary and benefits.
Administration updates
Staff continue to work on the 2026 budget, health insurance enrollment, and insurance coverage reviews. Employees have shared positive feedback about the new family coverage contribution.
The district applied for two Boulder County 1B grants—one for five sets of bunker gear and another jointly with Gilpin Ambulance Authority to maintain EMS coverage in the Boulder County portion of Timberline’s district. Ondr explained that the agreement dates back to an old arrangement between High Country and Gilpin Ambulance Company that “we can’t find,” noting that both original entities have since dissolved.
A smaller FRETAC (Foothills Regional Emergency Medical & Trauma Advisory Council) grant request was submitted for suction and airway equipment for Engine 55 and Brush 55. Ondr thanked Firefighter Harper for preparing the recent grant applications.
He added that Congressman Joe Neguse and his staff visited Station 3 on October 22, saying the visit “went very well.”
The district is also considering software consolidation to simplify scheduling and reporting in 2026.
Recruitment and training
“With the ending of the Recruitment and Retention SAFER grant after eight years, the R&R Coordinator position has been reduced to part time for the remainder of 2025,” Ondr said. Timberline currently has about 30 applicants for its next onboarding cycle.
Steve Ruscio will take over as Training Coordinator, working with Lt. Kevin Schneider, who plans to retire early next year. The 2026 training calendar is in draft form and will be finalized soon.
New volunteers introduced
Lieutenant Lovato introduced three of Timberline’s newest volunteers: John Covele, Jesse Siegal Gane, and Emily Cresswell. Covele lives off Magnolia, Siegal Gane near Shoshoni Camp Road, and Cresswell in Golden, serving as a “shifter.”
“I feel like a name, not a number,” Cresswell told the board. “Everyone’s been very welcoming.”
Siegal Gane, a recent Nederland High School graduate, added, “I’ve lived in Rollinsville my entire life. Growing up here, it’s a great place to be.”
The board welcomed the new members and thanked them for stepping up to serve.
The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
The next workshop will be on November 24 from 3 to 5 p.m., and the next regular meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Station 3, which is located at 19126 Highway 119.