$75,000 approved for remodeling of two fire stations

The Evergreen Fire Protection District board voted unanimously to spend $75,000 combined to spruce up aging fire stations No. 1 and No. 4. The decision came at a regular meeting of the board on May 28.

Fire Chief Garry DeJong recommended spending $35,000 on a cosmetic makeover for Station 4, about halfway between Marshdale station No. 3 and station No. 1 near downtown.

Station 4 serves as sleeping quarters for two paramedics while they are on 24-hour duty.

Station 1, which is closest to downtown near the junction of Highways 73 and 74, needs more extensive work. DeJong recommended a new roof, siding, interior and exterior paint, new countertops and flooring for about $40,000.

He advised against tearing out any walls and opening up possible expensive electrical or plumbing issues.

The board voted to appropriate the money out of the bond fund, rather than the 2008 operating budget. Some of the work will be done by contractors and some by the fire department. Several contractors submitted preliminary quotes that were used to determine the budget. The final contractor has not been named.

Ultimately, the future of the two fire stations may be revised during the process of updating the districts 7-year-old master plan, DeJong said.

In response to a question, DeJong said there was no way to move the people from Station 4 into Station 1. He said moving personnel and equipment from Station 4 to Station 1 would decrease call time to Kittredge and increase call time to North Turkey Creek.

The growth is going north, not south, DeJong said. Four is actually more strategically located than station 1. Four is a better place for the medics because the access can be horrendous at 1.

From the chiefs report

The new communications director, DeAnna McMahan, has been hired and started her job May 12.

The application deadline for the new finance director job has closed, and the chief is getting together a committee to screen the submissions.

Wendy Yanish has resigned her position as administrative analyst, and the job is being posted.

A new master plan is in progress after seven years. The process is expected to take about a year.

A contract for a new ambulance was awarded to Lifeline of Nebraska, paid for by a $60,000 grant from the state and $80,000 in department funds. Delivery is expected in November.

The fire department will look into granting an easement near the small retention pond to help complete the next segment of the North Evergreen Activity Trail, which is being made possible by a $200,000 grant from the Colorado State Parks Trails Division.

The cistern installations at Stations 5 and 8 came in at $158,200, or over budget by $5,200, due to unexpected problems with rock removal.

Policy on drinking in uniform

After objections were raised by audience members, the board agreed without a formal vote to allow the handbook to read that firefighters would not be allowed to consume alcohol while wearing work uniforms, but drinking while wearing fire attire, such as logo shirts and hats, was allowed. DeJong had asked the board to consider prohibiting consumption of alcohol while wearing fire department attire.