RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
- ElkCreekFireDepartment
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- Mountain Legend
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11 Sep 2024 07:24 #1
by ElkCreekFireDepartment
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RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of North Fork Fire, Elk Creek Fire, and Inter-Canyon Fire Protection Districts
Hello community -
We have some important news to share with you, and we want to get this information to you prior to upcoming fire district board meetings in the most straightforward and transparent way we can.
The three Fire Chiefs (from North Fork Fire, Elk Creek Fire, and Inter-Canyon Fire) are recommending an amendment to our current consolidation IGA to create unification among the three fire districts. This amendment is being presented to the fire district boards who will vote on them at the next upcoming board meetings.
We invite you to read the following information, and then take a bit of time to watch this more in-depth video chat with Chief Skip Shirlaw and FF/Public Information Officer Bethany Urban. We feel this candid and heartfelt conversation will provide a deeper understanding of the factors leading to this recommendation, as well as insights on what is truly needed to care for and maintain the safety of our communities.
We will create time in the coming months for public interaction, discussion, and questions about this topic. Thank you for taking the time to read through and watch this information. We are, as always, dedicated in service to this community that we love.
HERE ARE SOME BRIEF POINTS, again, please watch the video for further.
There will be public hearings in the coming couple months so that the community can ask questions and get more information.
###
Video - Shirlaw Interview on Unification
Hello community -
We have some important news to share with you, and we want to get this information to you prior to upcoming fire district board meetings in the most straightforward and transparent way we can.
The three Fire Chiefs (from North Fork Fire, Elk Creek Fire, and Inter-Canyon Fire) are recommending an amendment to our current consolidation IGA to create unification among the three fire districts. This amendment is being presented to the fire district boards who will vote on them at the next upcoming board meetings.
We invite you to read the following information, and then take a bit of time to watch this more in-depth video chat with Chief Skip Shirlaw and FF/Public Information Officer Bethany Urban. We feel this candid and heartfelt conversation will provide a deeper understanding of the factors leading to this recommendation, as well as insights on what is truly needed to care for and maintain the safety of our communities.
We will create time in the coming months for public interaction, discussion, and questions about this topic. Thank you for taking the time to read through and watch this information. We are, as always, dedicated in service to this community that we love.
HERE ARE SOME BRIEF POINTS, again, please watch the video for further.
- The three Fire Chiefs are recommending an amendment to our current consolidation IGA to create unification among the three fire districts. This amendment is being presented to the fire district boards who will vote on them at the next upcoming board meetings.
- This amended IGA will propose unification without a mill levy increase.
- The districts would be unified into one district, and then rebranded into Conifer Fire.
- The entire unified district will be at the North Fork mill levy, which is the lowest of the three districts.
- If the boards approve this unification process, the intent is that the districts will be unified by January 2025.
There will be public hearings in the coming couple months so that the community can ask questions and get more information.
###
Video - Shirlaw Interview on Unification
In case of emergency, please dial 911.
elkcreekfpd.colorado.gov/
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303-816-9385 (Office Hours M-F 8:00-4:30)
pio@elkcreekfire.org
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- ScienceChic
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- Mountain Champion
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16 Nov 2024 14:27 - 20 Nov 2024 15:02 #2
by ScienceChic
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Replied by ScienceChic on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
TO THE CITIZENS OF ELK CREEK, INTER-CANYON, AND NORTH FORK FIRE-PROTECTION DISTRICTS (FPDs):
GREETINGS!
We who have signed below are the men and women who devotedly provide emergency services in your FPDs.
We represent 100% percent of the 79 respondents (78% of all Members) to a formal survey of our three collective FPDs’ professional firefighting and EMS personnel (both paid and volunteer, 57 of these responders from Elk Creek Fire, representing 90% of its Members), and 948 years of actual emergency response experience (556 of these years in Elk Creek Fire alone). It is our professional belief that Unifying our three FPDs, as proposed by our respective Fire Chiefs, is in the best interest of every person residing in each of our FPDs.
The current arrangement of separate FPDs is NOT working well for this community: with growing call numbers, severity, and overlap as well as increased mutual-aid needs, we are constantly within one call of catastrophe in our service to our districts and their people. For these and other operational reasons, we believe that we would be much more effective in this community’s care and safety as a single, Unified FPD.
If you want more timely and more fully-staffed emergency response, we urge you to support what volunteer and career staff alike endorse: UNIFICATION OF OUR 3 FPDs!
We encourage, and request that you encourage, your FPD’s Directors to vote Yes to Unify our three FPDs and to support this fundamental change in how we work together. Unification will allow us to be more effective and efficient in providing our community the better level of emergency service that is necessary as this community evolves.
Please help us to help you!
**************************************************
Elk Creek FPD Members: 57 responses (90% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 556 Years of Service*
S. Aronson, Career, 23 years of service
C Barry, Career, 6 years of service
A. Bartells, Volunteer, 5 years of service
A. Beckwith, Volunteer, 4 years of service
H. Beckwith, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Berry, Volunteer, 2 years of service
X. Borg, Career, 7 years of service
K. Devaney, Volunteer, 25 years of service
D. Evers, Career, 9 years of service
L. Fabbri, Volunteer, 21 years of service
K. Fontaine, Volunteer, 3 years of service
B. Gage, Career, 16 years of service
J. Gardner, Volunteer, 4 years of service
G. Guttman, Career, 10 years of service
N. Hankins, Volunteer, 8 years of service
L. Hartley, Career, 10 years of service
T. Hokit, Career, 5 years of service
W. Huber, Volunteer, 12 years of service
P. Igel, Volunteer, 32 years of service
N. Jenkins, Career, 11 years of service
T. Jones, Volunteer, 5 years of service
L. Knecht, Career, 8 years of service
P. Koch, Volunteer, 9 years of service
R. LeBaron, Career, 14 years of service
K. Macauley, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Macauley, Career, 3 years of service
S. Marble, Volunteer, 13 years of service
A. McClain, Career, 6 years of service
K. McConnaughey, Career, 4 years of service
M. McCready, Career, 1 year of service
A. McIver, Volunteer, 9 years of service
A. McManus, Career, 3 years of service
B. Moore, Volunteer, 2 years of service
K. Moser, Volunteer, 11 years of service
B. Moses, Career, 11 years of service
C. Moya, Career, 18 years of service
A. Nesbitt, Career, 15 years of service
C. Nyholm, Career, 6 years of service
J. Papenfus, Career, 16 years of service
P. Quiesner, Volunteer, 21 years of service
R. Rush, Career, 12 years of service
P. Scott, Career, 28 years of service
A. Shearer, Career, 1 year of service
K. Shine, Volunteer, 7 years of service
T. Smith, Career, 4 years of service
A. Steed, Career, 1 year of service
S. Tamburlin, Volunteer, 13 years of service
C. Thiel, Volunteer, 7 years of service
N. Trefethen, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Trilk, Volunteer, 6 years of service
B. Urban, Career, 10 years of service
A. Wezeman, Career, 6 years of service
B. Wilkins, Volunteer, 3 years of service
J. Winefeldt, Career, 23 years of service
B. Yellin, Career, 14 years of service
J. Zeugschmidt, Career, 3 years of service
T. Zoesch, Career, 4 years of service
Inter-Canyon FPD Members 13 responses (65% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 244 Years of Service*
J. Adamy, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Buckles, Career, 30 years of service
D. Carcone, Volunteer, 34 years of service
T. Elkins, Volunteer, 6 years of service
S. Epperson, Career, 12 years of service
T. Fedyna, Volunteer, 1 year of service
R. Fuller, Volunteer, 7 years of service
W. Fuller, Volunteer, 7 years of service
M. Hansen, 16 years of service
D. Hatlestad, Career, 43 years of service
T. James, Career, 14 years of service
J. Mandl, Career, 24 years of service
D. Wurts, Volunteer, 30 years of service
North Fork FPD Members 8 responses (44% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 148 Years of Service*
T. Bono, Career, 39 years of service
A. Dyes, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Gardner, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Graves, Volunteer, 1 year of service
G. Mcdonald, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. McCoy, Volunteer, 24 years of service
J. Rogers, Vounteer, 8 years of service
J. Siewertsen, Volunteer, 7 years of service
Names and statistics as of 0700 Mountain Time Thursday 14 November 2024.
Each Fire Chief’s’ Years of Service included in total; Chiefs otherwise not included in lists or statistics.
GREETINGS!
We who have signed below are the men and women who devotedly provide emergency services in your FPDs.
We represent 100% percent of the 79 respondents (78% of all Members) to a formal survey of our three collective FPDs’ professional firefighting and EMS personnel (both paid and volunteer, 57 of these responders from Elk Creek Fire, representing 90% of its Members), and 948 years of actual emergency response experience (556 of these years in Elk Creek Fire alone). It is our professional belief that Unifying our three FPDs, as proposed by our respective Fire Chiefs, is in the best interest of every person residing in each of our FPDs.
The current arrangement of separate FPDs is NOT working well for this community: with growing call numbers, severity, and overlap as well as increased mutual-aid needs, we are constantly within one call of catastrophe in our service to our districts and their people. For these and other operational reasons, we believe that we would be much more effective in this community’s care and safety as a single, Unified FPD.
If you want more timely and more fully-staffed emergency response, we urge you to support what volunteer and career staff alike endorse: UNIFICATION OF OUR 3 FPDs!
We encourage, and request that you encourage, your FPD’s Directors to vote Yes to Unify our three FPDs and to support this fundamental change in how we work together. Unification will allow us to be more effective and efficient in providing our community the better level of emergency service that is necessary as this community evolves.
Please help us to help you!
**************************************************
Elk Creek FPD Members: 57 responses (90% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 556 Years of Service*
S. Aronson, Career, 23 years of service
C Barry, Career, 6 years of service
A. Bartells, Volunteer, 5 years of service
A. Beckwith, Volunteer, 4 years of service
H. Beckwith, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Berry, Volunteer, 2 years of service
X. Borg, Career, 7 years of service
K. Devaney, Volunteer, 25 years of service
D. Evers, Career, 9 years of service
L. Fabbri, Volunteer, 21 years of service
K. Fontaine, Volunteer, 3 years of service
B. Gage, Career, 16 years of service
J. Gardner, Volunteer, 4 years of service
G. Guttman, Career, 10 years of service
N. Hankins, Volunteer, 8 years of service
L. Hartley, Career, 10 years of service
T. Hokit, Career, 5 years of service
W. Huber, Volunteer, 12 years of service
P. Igel, Volunteer, 32 years of service
N. Jenkins, Career, 11 years of service
T. Jones, Volunteer, 5 years of service
L. Knecht, Career, 8 years of service
P. Koch, Volunteer, 9 years of service
R. LeBaron, Career, 14 years of service
K. Macauley, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Macauley, Career, 3 years of service
S. Marble, Volunteer, 13 years of service
A. McClain, Career, 6 years of service
K. McConnaughey, Career, 4 years of service
M. McCready, Career, 1 year of service
A. McIver, Volunteer, 9 years of service
A. McManus, Career, 3 years of service
B. Moore, Volunteer, 2 years of service
K. Moser, Volunteer, 11 years of service
B. Moses, Career, 11 years of service
C. Moya, Career, 18 years of service
A. Nesbitt, Career, 15 years of service
C. Nyholm, Career, 6 years of service
J. Papenfus, Career, 16 years of service
P. Quiesner, Volunteer, 21 years of service
R. Rush, Career, 12 years of service
P. Scott, Career, 28 years of service
A. Shearer, Career, 1 year of service
K. Shine, Volunteer, 7 years of service
T. Smith, Career, 4 years of service
A. Steed, Career, 1 year of service
S. Tamburlin, Volunteer, 13 years of service
C. Thiel, Volunteer, 7 years of service
N. Trefethen, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Trilk, Volunteer, 6 years of service
B. Urban, Career, 10 years of service
A. Wezeman, Career, 6 years of service
B. Wilkins, Volunteer, 3 years of service
J. Winefeldt, Career, 23 years of service
B. Yellin, Career, 14 years of service
J. Zeugschmidt, Career, 3 years of service
T. Zoesch, Career, 4 years of service
Inter-Canyon FPD Members 13 responses (65% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 244 Years of Service*
J. Adamy, Volunteer, 2 years of service
S. Buckles, Career, 30 years of service
D. Carcone, Volunteer, 34 years of service
T. Elkins, Volunteer, 6 years of service
S. Epperson, Career, 12 years of service
T. Fedyna, Volunteer, 1 year of service
R. Fuller, Volunteer, 7 years of service
W. Fuller, Volunteer, 7 years of service
M. Hansen, 16 years of service
D. Hatlestad, Career, 43 years of service
T. James, Career, 14 years of service
J. Mandl, Career, 24 years of service
D. Wurts, Volunteer, 30 years of service
North Fork FPD Members 8 responses (44% of Members), all ‘In Favor’; 148 Years of Service*
T. Bono, Career, 39 years of service
A. Dyes, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Gardner, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. Graves, Volunteer, 1 year of service
G. Mcdonald, Volunteer, 1 year of service
J. McCoy, Volunteer, 24 years of service
J. Rogers, Vounteer, 8 years of service
J. Siewertsen, Volunteer, 7 years of service
Names and statistics as of 0700 Mountain Time Thursday 14 November 2024.
Each Fire Chief’s’ Years of Service included in total; Chiefs otherwise not included in lists or statistics.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Last edit: 20 Nov 2024 15:02 by ScienceChic. Reason: fixed spacing issues
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- aflleo
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16 Nov 2024 17:25 #3
by aflleo
Replied by aflleo on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
Thank you for your service and the redocumentation FOR Unification. When it comes to a decision like Unification, I listen to the fire/EMS professionals listed here with 948 YEARS of experience, not cosecc, which lacks any relevant experience. I support Unification because, as these professionals believe, it is essential for the safety of families, friends, and neighbors.
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- ElkCreekFireDepartment
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- Mountain Legend
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29 Nov 2024 20:59 #4
by ElkCreekFireDepartment
In case of emergency, please dial 911.
elkcreekfpd.colorado.gov/
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Replied by ElkCreekFireDepartment on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
We are so grateful for the support of the board members from all three boards who chose to move unification forward. Anyone who was there witnessed the passionate commitment and dedication behind this, the determination to do what is best to keep our community and our firefighters safe from everyday emergencies to the ever-increasing threat of catastrophic wildfire. We will continue to make the best choices that ensure the sustainability of emergency services to this incredible community.
“This was a historic night, our biggest since the formation of the district 76 years ago… These are the bold, courageous, moves that have made Elk Creek successful.” (Elk Creek Fire Chief Jacob Ware)
If you want to watch the moving testimony of so many, My Mountain Town has the video of the meeting posted: mymountaintown.com/forum/194-area-non-pr...deos?start=20#410072 .
Thank you to all who have supported us.
Fire district unification moving forward: Elk Creek board approves critical motion
Inter-Canyon Fire Board approves two exclusions, one required for unification
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when…”
Thank you to 9 News for helping share our story of unification as we move forward with protecting and caring for our communities in the best way possible. With an ever-increasing threat of catastrophic wildfire and with call volume and acuity on the rise, we know that working together provides us the best operational efficiencies and an improved response. We are stronger together. We look forward to serving you as Conifer Fire soon.
Video interview: 3 Jefferson County fire departments preparing to merge
“This was a historic night, our biggest since the formation of the district 76 years ago… These are the bold, courageous, moves that have made Elk Creek successful.” (Elk Creek Fire Chief Jacob Ware)
If you want to watch the moving testimony of so many, My Mountain Town has the video of the meeting posted: mymountaintown.com/forum/194-area-non-pr...deos?start=20#410072 .
Thank you to all who have supported us.
Fire district unification moving forward: Elk Creek board approves critical motion
Inter-Canyon Fire Board approves two exclusions, one required for unification
“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when…”
Thank you to 9 News for helping share our story of unification as we move forward with protecting and caring for our communities in the best way possible. With an ever-increasing threat of catastrophic wildfire and with call volume and acuity on the rise, we know that working together provides us the best operational efficiencies and an improved response. We are stronger together. We look forward to serving you as Conifer Fire soon.
Video interview: 3 Jefferson County fire departments preparing to merge
In case of emergency, please dial 911.
elkcreekfpd.colorado.gov/
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- PrintSmith
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30 Nov 2024 18:03 - 30 Nov 2024 18:04 #5
by PrintSmith
Replied by PrintSmith on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
Yes, congratulations on finding a way to thwart the consent of the governed after you were told, just last year, that the majority of those you serve didn’t wish to combine, unify, consolidate, their department with other departments. You are to be commended for finding a way to do what you wanted to do rather than listen to the voices of those you serve.
Last edit: 30 Nov 2024 18:04 by PrintSmith.
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- aflleo
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12 Dec 2024 11:43 #6
by aflleo
Replied by aflleo on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
The FPDs did listen to the residents:
1. NO Mill Levy Increase (actually a slight decrease for some)
2. Hiring fewer career fire/EMS personnel
3. EC FPD Station #1 stays as is
4. Only minor changes to facilities, no new facilities
Unification is different and a legal process.
1. NO Mill Levy Increase (actually a slight decrease for some)
2. Hiring fewer career fire/EMS personnel
3. EC FPD Station #1 stays as is
4. Only minor changes to facilities, no new facilities
Unification is different and a legal process.
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- PrintSmith
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13 Dec 2024 16:26 - 13 Dec 2024 16:28 #7
by PrintSmith
Replied by PrintSmith on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
The voters in the Elk Creek Fire Protection District, with their votes, said they didn't want their fire department merging with other fire departments. The mil levy increase was a separate question from the merging of the departments, and voters said no to both.
That the board decided to ignore the will of the voters with respect to merging with other departments so long as they complied with respect to not increasing the mil levy (yet), does not in any manner alter the validity of the statement I made.
The consent of the governed was for the board to oversee the operation of an independent district, without raising the mil levy, and with the understanding that they would extend a tax that was set to expire and allow the district to keep any excess revenue above and beyond what was permitted under TABOR moving forward.
And the board decided to ignore them and merge their district with other districts. Shame on the board for ignoring the consent of the governed with their actions.
That the board decided to ignore the will of the voters with respect to merging with other departments so long as they complied with respect to not increasing the mil levy (yet), does not in any manner alter the validity of the statement I made.
The consent of the governed was for the board to oversee the operation of an independent district, without raising the mil levy, and with the understanding that they would extend a tax that was set to expire and allow the district to keep any excess revenue above and beyond what was permitted under TABOR moving forward.
And the board decided to ignore them and merge their district with other districts. Shame on the board for ignoring the consent of the governed with their actions.
Last edit: 13 Dec 2024 16:28 by PrintSmith.
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02 Jan 2025 08:33 #8
by pskoch
Replied by pskoch on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
PrintSmith: Baloney!!!
The 7 Nov.'23 election was NOT a referendum on whether or not Elk Creek FPD (ECFPD) should ever combine with other FPDs: it was about Consolidation only - which is not the same as Unification as the latter has no associated increase in mill-levy rate, but rather a DECREASE in it. Consequently, no voter approval is required for Unification, only that of the ECFPD's duly elected Board - which very much voted in favor at its meeting 21 Nov.'24. The lone dissenting vote was of course Director Newby.
Unification is about the organization and operation of emergency services for our community. Per basic common sense and the very by-laws of ECFPD's elected Board of Directors, such matters at Elk Creek are reserved for its Fire Chief. Elk Creek's Chief Ware recommends Unification, as do his colleagues Chiefs Shirlaw (of the now-former Inter-Canyon) and Rogers (North Fork) as well as 79 current emergency responders (career and volunteer) who answered a formal survey. (There were no voices of dissent.) Their collective years of experience in emergency response: 948. The vast majority (4) of the elected Directors of ECFPD's Board support the change of Unification, and have proceeded under CRS Title 32 in a manner that is entirely legal.
Frankly, while 'The People's' views on these matters are indeed welcome, they have and should have no determining say in any operational matters. Otherwise, where is the line to be drawn on what 'The People' decide: Which fire apparatus to acquire? Which personal-protective equipment to use? What about the frequency and duration of bathroom breaks for staff? The paper and cleaning products to use? Which emergency calls to answer and when and how to perform them? This is absurd.
The petitioners opposing Unification (Director Newby and Dr. Whitehead) have ZERO current emergency-response experience and are holding our collective safety hostage to their misperceptions, misplaced nostalgia, and special interests. And they are costing us taxpayers money in legal fees in the process.
Enough is enough: trust the experts and those who selflessly devote their time and energy to our safety. Let's move forward with Unification.
ECFPD Volunteer Firefighter and Conifer Citizen Philip S. 'Flip' Koch
The 7 Nov.'23 election was NOT a referendum on whether or not Elk Creek FPD (ECFPD) should ever combine with other FPDs: it was about Consolidation only - which is not the same as Unification as the latter has no associated increase in mill-levy rate, but rather a DECREASE in it. Consequently, no voter approval is required for Unification, only that of the ECFPD's duly elected Board - which very much voted in favor at its meeting 21 Nov.'24. The lone dissenting vote was of course Director Newby.
Unification is about the organization and operation of emergency services for our community. Per basic common sense and the very by-laws of ECFPD's elected Board of Directors, such matters at Elk Creek are reserved for its Fire Chief. Elk Creek's Chief Ware recommends Unification, as do his colleagues Chiefs Shirlaw (of the now-former Inter-Canyon) and Rogers (North Fork) as well as 79 current emergency responders (career and volunteer) who answered a formal survey. (There were no voices of dissent.) Their collective years of experience in emergency response: 948. The vast majority (4) of the elected Directors of ECFPD's Board support the change of Unification, and have proceeded under CRS Title 32 in a manner that is entirely legal.
Frankly, while 'The People's' views on these matters are indeed welcome, they have and should have no determining say in any operational matters. Otherwise, where is the line to be drawn on what 'The People' decide: Which fire apparatus to acquire? Which personal-protective equipment to use? What about the frequency and duration of bathroom breaks for staff? The paper and cleaning products to use? Which emergency calls to answer and when and how to perform them? This is absurd.
The petitioners opposing Unification (Director Newby and Dr. Whitehead) have ZERO current emergency-response experience and are holding our collective safety hostage to their misperceptions, misplaced nostalgia, and special interests. And they are costing us taxpayers money in legal fees in the process.
Enough is enough: trust the experts and those who selflessly devote their time and energy to our safety. Let's move forward with Unification.
ECFPD Volunteer Firefighter and Conifer Citizen Philip S. 'Flip' Koch
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- PrintSmith
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03 Jan 2025 09:43 #9
by PrintSmith
Replied by PrintSmith on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
Not baloney at all. The voters rejected consolidation with other fire departments, in an election. The ECFPD board is merging that districts with other districts absent the permission from the people to act in such manner.
The voters didn’t approve the consolidation and reject the mil levy increase, they rejected both. Those were two distinctly separate questions that they were asked, and the majority of those who participated in the election rejected both of them while, at the same time, approving an temporary tax increase being made permanent and exempting that tax from any TABOR restrictions, which was the third request of them from the Board.
Unification, consolidation, merger, pick your descriptor, they all involve turning 3 separate entities into one entity, and the citizens residing in the ECFPD told their elected Board, in an election, that they wished for the ECFPD to remain an independent entity, separate and distinct from others in the area. Instructions which the Board ignored. If the Board still wanted to merge the ECFPD with other districts, they should have sought the permission of the same people that barely a year ago told them to keep ECFPD independent of other districts.
The people are not always wise, nor are their elected officials, but the consent of the people is where the legitimacy of the government to act is derived in our system of government. The Board ignored the instructions they were given, in an election, and violated this foundational principle of our society.
The voters didn’t approve the consolidation and reject the mil levy increase, they rejected both. Those were two distinctly separate questions that they were asked, and the majority of those who participated in the election rejected both of them while, at the same time, approving an temporary tax increase being made permanent and exempting that tax from any TABOR restrictions, which was the third request of them from the Board.
Unification, consolidation, merger, pick your descriptor, they all involve turning 3 separate entities into one entity, and the citizens residing in the ECFPD told their elected Board, in an election, that they wished for the ECFPD to remain an independent entity, separate and distinct from others in the area. Instructions which the Board ignored. If the Board still wanted to merge the ECFPD with other districts, they should have sought the permission of the same people that barely a year ago told them to keep ECFPD independent of other districts.
The people are not always wise, nor are their elected officials, but the consent of the people is where the legitimacy of the government to act is derived in our system of government. The Board ignored the instructions they were given, in an election, and violated this foundational principle of our society.
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03 Jan 2025 15:34 #10
by aflleo
Replied by aflleo on topic RECOMMENDATION for UNIFICATION of NFFPD, ECFPD, and ICFPD
@PrintSmith:
Unification is not the same as Consolidation
- No mill levy increase - set at 12 mills which is LOWER than the current mill levy in ECFPD
- Less hiring - adding fewer full-time fire/EMS personnel - 6, not 18
- ECFPD Station #1 remains staffed 24x7 as it is currently - no change
- One additional staffed Fire Station, not two
- No new buildings, no major renovations
The process is legal under Title 32 State Statute.
Nothing on the ballot in November said ECFPD couldn't work to shore up and improve services. It was a vote on a specific set of parameters - which have been changed based on public input.
Unification is not the same as Consolidation
- No mill levy increase - set at 12 mills which is LOWER than the current mill levy in ECFPD
- Less hiring - adding fewer full-time fire/EMS personnel - 6, not 18
- ECFPD Station #1 remains staffed 24x7 as it is currently - no change
- One additional staffed Fire Station, not two
- No new buildings, no major renovations
The process is legal under Title 32 State Statute.
Nothing on the ballot in November said ECFPD couldn't work to shore up and improve services. It was a vote on a specific set of parameters - which have been changed based on public input.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
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