Fire District budget set at $1.4 million

POMEROY-The 2020 Budget for the Garfield County Fire District (GCFD)was presented by Fire Chief Kris Darby and approved by the commissioners. Darby stated that the total 2019 expenses were much the same as the 2018 expenses, and the fire district "stayed in the black" for 2019, even though they were in the process of building a new fire station. According to Darby, this was accomplished by investing money wisely. The budget for 2020 is set at $1.4 million.

The Garfield County Fire District Commissioners received an update on the progress of the new fire station construction which was discussed and change orders approved at their regular meeting Tuesday night, December 10.

Severin, Construction Supervisor for Wellens Farwell, reported that the exterior metal materials for the walls and roof will be arriving the week of December 16, and the brick masonry work will be starting very soon. The overhead doors should arrive the first week of January, 2020, which will allow them to do the interior drywall work once the doors are installed. He expects that the completion date for the whole project will be mid-January.

Four additional change orders were presented to the commissioners for approval. Because there were no details in the original engineering plans for finishing out the exterior eaves, Severin suggested finishing out the soffit with black metal sheeting to match the exterior of the building. The cost of this additional work and materials is $6,011, which was approved by the commissioners. Keith Wellens, Wellens Farwell owner, suggested once again that the window panels in the overhead doors should be a full glass panel in each door. This had been discussed previously by the commissioners, but declined due to the cost involved. Wellens offered to reduce the cost by half, and the commissioners approved the added cost of $750 to make this change. Severin suggestion to leave out the insulation for the two-foot thick concrete retaining wall, making a cost savings of $1,052 for the district was approved.

The final change order was to remove a shower door inside the restroom, and replace it with a shower curtain. The original plan to install a door would interfere with the operation of the washer and dryer when the door is opened. This approved change saved the fire district $851. The overall changes throughout the project, to date, has totaled $103,404.71 in additional expense to the fire district.

Other business discussed at the meeting included the purchase of a new thermal camera. After doing more research, Darby found several options of cameras to replace the old camera now owned by the fire district. According to Darby, the batteries for the old camera can no longer be purchased. To have them refurbished, which is necessary from time to time, it requires shipping them off to China and waiting about six months to return. Darby presented the options found, which ranged in price level from just under $7,000 to about $3,500. After considering the differences, the commissioners decided to go with the most expensive camera for $6,965, feeling that the extra expense was worthwhile for the superior quality. Darby said that he would request half of the money from the fire district's memorial fund.

At the regular meeting of the fire district in November, it was recommended by Commissioner Terry John that the district approve payment of volunteer hours for Fire Chief Darby and EMT Deanna (Deedee) Weymouth. The request was tabled until the December meeting because Commissioner Gary Bowles was not present in November.

Currently, Darby and Weymouth are salaried and work full-time with a 60-hour work week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with four hours each day spent at home on call. Any extra shifts they work outside of those hours, or on the weekends, are without pay. John asked the other commissioners to approve a change in the policies to allow them to accrue points for compensation, just like the volunteer EMTs, due to the fact that they are having to fill in shifts on weekends, holidays, and after hours, on a more frequent basis due to the loss of volunteers. It was approved by Commissioners Bowles and John. Commissioner Don McGreevy abstained from the vote because this was his last meeting as a fire commissioner.

The commissioners also approved a resolution to allow the Garfield County Hospital District to take possession of a surplus ambulance shed located on the property of the hospital. There will be no cost to either entity for the exchange.

A new chairman for the GCFD Board of Commissioners will be appointed at the next regular meeting on January 14, 2020, at 5 p.m. at the fire station offices, when newly elected commissioner, Aaron Stallcop will join the board. Stallcop was not in attendance at the December meeting.