FORT LEWIS MESA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
BOARD of DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES
March 11, 2025
Attendance:
Directors: Debbie Lee
Ted Stahl
Ginny DeJong
Brent Van Den Berg
(Excused) Paul Richardson
Others: Jeannine Glasby (Dist. Office Mgr.)
Visitors: Garret Vogel Nick Schmitt
Travis Schmitt Martha Schmitt
Jim Greer Ciera Brown
Frank Greer Troy Brown
Debbie Lee called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes Review: Ted motioned and Ginny seconded approval of the minutes for the February 11th Board Meeting. Minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
• The February financial reports were reviewed and discussed. The financial reports were accepted. Debbie noted a difference in the Government Fire Net Income report last month and the Budget Vs. Actual amount. It was discussed that the payments from some fires came in another year from when they were earned, which wasn’t how it was tracked in the Net Income report. It was noted that the Government Fire Net Income report was a draft and not finalized. Jeannine will reconcile the $10k difference she identified regarding the government fires report and the budget reports.
Public Comment:
Nick Schmitt -The public should be allowed to comment throughout the entire meeting not just in the public comment section of the meeting.
Jim Greer – None of the actions of the previous meeting were valid because he didn’t hear the votes or motions, further that we should use Robert’s Rules. Debbie showed all actions were completed appropriately by referring to the previous meeting minutes that all motions were properly moved, seconded and voted on. The Board uses Robert’s Rules.
Garrett Vogel and Nick Schmitt – spoke on the perceived drawbacks of becoming a licensed medical transport agency. They spoke of a 24/7 requirement, that the legal and certification standards and upkeep of an ambulance was a lot. That years ago it was decided that a rescue unit was preferred. That some citizens use the service as “A Ride to Town”, that we (the department) shouldn’t be going out of district and that housing for the required rotating shifts would be expensive. The department should be “Pure Volunteer” with a paid chief. And that a pure volunteer department would reduce the burden on the taxpayers. The perception years ago, was that if there was a paid chief then volunteers wouldn’t respond.
Travis Schmitt- opined about the cost of one of his recent CORA requests. And implied Fraud.
Frank Greer- opined that he thought the time for the CORA request was excessive. The district shouldn’t pay for anyone’s retirement or benefits. And although he admitted he didn’t know how much the chief was paid he was certain it was too much. If we(the department) pay it should be to EMT’s.
Nick Schmitt- The department should be a volunteer department. And that taxpayers are not looking for a paid department.
Travis Schmitt- Voiced concern of adequate response and who was where and on what calls
Nick Schmitt – The rolling quarter report should indicate the responders
Martha Schmitt showed him that it did indicate responders.
The Board devoted additional time to address the public to ascertain if there was a purpose, goal, intent or specific dissatisfaction and to also address comments made at previous meetings. The general comments: don’t need an ambulance service, don’t need to pay for retirement, wasting money on employees, think the chief is paid too much, dissatisfaction with responses and who is going where when.
The Board provided the following information:
Public comment time is reserved specifically on the agenda and it is at the sole discretion of the Board to allow public comments other than at the listed time.
The perceived requirements regarding the ambulance service were not accurate at this time. It is not an all or nothing and the Board is moving forward with great prudence and care. The department has been providing some level of ambulance service since at least 2006.
The department has a heavy rescue unit.
We are required by law to pay into retirement.
Employees- We haven’t been an all-volunteer department for over 20 years. We will likely never be an all-volunteer department again . We will likely continue to be a combination department.
The chief is one of the lowest paid chief in our region and beyond, yet because of the nature of our department works longer hours and addresses more technical and specific areas than other chiefs.
In the last 7 years the department has responded to every call. The staffing is variable and there may be calls with lower numbers because of being a volunteer department. All calls are answered. The review of the call report and rolling quarter report show high levels of response and coverage.
Debbie relayed that NFPA standards are not codified but that
FLMFPD strives to achieve NFPA standards and uses them as benchmarks knowing that because these standards are not modified for rural and volunteer department they will likely not be achieved. FLMFPD works to keep people safe, thus the work and funds put into PPE, tools, equipment and training that is updated on a rotational basis. We optimize grants and existing funds.
Debbie addressed the February mtg. comment regarding a mutual aid call. The mutual aid request originated from the Mancos Chief directly to Chief Lee. It can get thin with a volunteer department. The Board indicated the professionalism and competence of our volunteers allows the department to engage in multiple calls.
The Board addressed public comments from February to correct the record about getting new rolling fire equipment and that we are replacing aging equipment.
Brent let the public know that the Board will answer the questions posed and if there are new questions to re-state the question.
Addressed by the current call report and the new requirements of a good year for pension including training hours and calls.
Discussion regarding the pension’s current solvency status and the previous state of the pension.
Office Managers Report:
• The board approved bank account moving discussion/decision to future board meeting.
• Jeannine reported the search for a CPA due to an increase in cost quoted for an audit. All others talked to, had higher quotes or didn’t do audits. The board approved going with MBE CPAs (which merged with Frederick Zink). Debbie signed the Audit Engagement Letter.
• As of January 2025, the Heart and Cancer Trust fund with CSD Pool, will reimburse for qualifying volunteer’s premiums. Debbie and Brent expressed that the current board and chief have worked tirelessly in service to the district.
Nick Schmitt said taxpayers need to voice concern. Debbie said the need was to address perception and there shouldn’t be anything personal. Nick and others made positive comments about the Chief indicating he was solid and professional. Brent said the question should be asked, what is the reason for serving on the Board of Directors. He stated, that is a question he asked himself. He said, “it is to make the district better.”
Chief’s Report:
A member of the public asked if the chief was normally at the meetings.
Frank- commented that he thought the chief’s handout was probably a place to save money. Travis- assured Frank that the chief traditionally created an electronic presentation.
The Chief’s Report was handed out. Some of the items are mentioned below. The report will be attached to the minutes.
• Luke has transitioned to fulltime EMT and Grant pursuer
• The Medical Director to the district, Dr. Oury, attended the March EMS training.
• FLM’s certified instructors did CPR training for the Mosquito District.
• Excess equipment auction held of B74. The old medic unit will go later.
The Board allowed public comment by Jim Greer he suggested opening any sales of equipment, to the community.
• The Chief said that there had been 2 applications received for the Parttime /Seasonal job.
The Rolling Quarter Responder Call report was given to the Board for Review. The review of the call report and rolling quarter report show high levels of response and coverage.
The Board allowed Public Comment by Jim Greer
Unfinished Business:
Action Item Review:
Items were reviewed.
• Item #s 290 & 274 are complete.
New Business:
• The Government Fire Pay lines on the Budget vs Actual were discussed and the board asked Jeannine to make them into their own separate section of the payroll line.
• In viewing the FLMFPD pay band report, it was recognized that FLM was more than 10% below the national average for combination departments, despite being in one of the highest labor markets. It was noted that this year’s new hire was brought in at a salary less than Travis had been paid in 2017 (8 years ago). Ginny said she supported the pay raises and felt it would position the district for the future, but not having to be competitive but being comparable. Ginny restated that the department will likely never be a true all volunteer department again and that we will remain a combination department, and she didn’t think the district should take advantage of employees. Ted added that we are in one of the highest cost markets and kids are trying to make it here and it is hard. Brent spoke of the cost of living and the inability to hire labor. The mark was $18 and now he sees the trend at $25 or greater. Ted further mentioned that the board had approved Travis’s pay increase to $70,000 before he left the district. It was discussed by the board that the FF/ EMT rate would go to $56,200 and the engine boss would go to $27.22 /hr and the EMS captain rate would go to $70,400. Debbie moved to approve the pay increases. Ted seconded. The motion passed. The pay increases are to go into effect for the end of the month payroll.
•The Board allowed public comment from Nick Schmitt, who opined that jobs should have specific qualifications. Debbie assured the public that desired qualifications are in job descriptions and job announcements. Nick Schmitt further suggested that FLM employees’ compensation should be reduced by whatever amount the employee may make from any other source of income. The Board did not consider this a viable option for hiring nor retaining employees. It is outside the scope of beneficial employment practices. The Board allowed public comment from Travis Schmitt who shared he makes $47,000 as his base salary with his current employer. This amount does not include overtime or extended duty assignments. His full salary was not explained.
• The Board By Laws were reviewed and a recommended change was noted, that being: Page 3: To change the election year from even to odd years. This recommended change will be voted on at the next regular Board meeting.
• FPPA enrolled catch up contributions. The timeline of Board approval and actual enrollment were reviewed. Jeannine will research to see if catch-up contributions are allowable. This will be an agenda item at the next regular Board meeting. Garret Vogel commented that he believes there were ISO Audit documents at Station 3 regarding the move of Station 2 to CR 141.
Executive Session:
• An Executive Session was not held.
Meeting adjourned 9:49pm
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannine Glasby
Secretary to the Board
Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Protection District
