1.0 / 2.0   Call to Order / Roll Call
The Special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Red, White & Blue Fire District was called to order by Director Griffin at 0705.  In attendance were Directors Perkins, Gothard and Griffin.  Also in attendance Chief Green, Deputy Chief Miller, Finance Officer Carmen Modglin, Chief Nelson, Chief Scott and Captain Lynch. Also Gary Gallagher, Jim Keating, local citizens Zack Hutchinson, Deb Keating, Julie Jones, and David Abraham were present. Wendy Peters served as Recording Secretary.

3.0   Citizen Comments and Other Communications
There were no citizen comments.

4.0   Approval to Changes to the Agenda
Chief Green added 8.0c Monthly Budgeting

5.0   Approval of Meeting Minutes
Regular meeting Minutes of January 28, 2010
Director Perkins noted that the date should be January 29, 2010.  Requested modification is actually a change to agenda item 5.0.  She also requested that on page two instead of stating that we post Board meeting notices at three locations, we state that we currently post Board Meeting notices at the Main Station and two other locations. M/S Perkins, Gothard to approve minutes with above changes.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion carried.

Special meeting Minutes of February 9, 2010
M/S Gothard, Perkins to approve minutes.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion carried.

Special Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2010
M/S Perkins, Gothard to approve minutes.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion carried.

6.0   Appointment of Directors and Oath of Office
M/S Perkins, Gothard to appoint Gary Gallagher to the four year term of Wayne Randall and Jim Keating to the two year term of Mike Krugman.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion carried.  Director Griffin had Gary Gallagher and Jim Keating stand, raise their right hands and take the oath of office. 

7.0   Chief’s Report
Chief Green stated that emergency responses are down 7% from 2009.

Chief Nelson reported that there had been three significant fires since December.  The first one began with a call from the hospital emergency room that they had received two burn victims from an unknown location.  E7 responded to the approximate area and eventually found the residence on Tordal Way.  This was a legal medical marijuana grow house where the occupants were doing hash oil extraction with butane.  It was estimated the occupants had utilized 48 cans of butane, and evidence reveals that this process created a concentration that either a light switch or heater turning on caused an explosion.  There are extreme warnings and guidelines for this process not to be done indoors and both victims in the room were significantly burned.  Director Gothard questioned if there are any zoning laws regarding this type of process being done in a residential area to which Chief Nelson responded that there is not and we can not touch residential structures unless they are under construction.  Chief Green noted that they are working on these types of regulations at the State level.  Chief Nelson also noted that most people doing this type of extraction do not use butane. 

The second event was a structure fire on Barton Road in January.  The neighbors awoke at 3am to what they thought sounded like an explosion.  It was a single family home and the renters were out of town. There was significant damage and the noise heard by the neighbors was most likely the propane tank or the car tires.  The insurance investigation believed that an extension cord in the wall that wasn’t long enough shorted out and started the fire. 

The third event occurred on Timber Trail in an 8.49 million dollar home where a painter was using a lacquer machine.  The room was completely sealed off and it is possible that the motor on the machine caused a spark that then ignited the room.  The painter was burned but is doing well. The house was fully sprinklered and the fire was extinguished before our fire fighters arrived. 

Chief Miller reported that there had been two cardiac fatalities recently.  She also reported that we had transported two patients, one from Silverthorne and one from Keystone. Chief Miller explained that Status 0 is when Summit Country Ambulance has no ambulances available and our Battalion Chief on duty will know when they are at Status 0. 

Chief Green and Captain Lynch stated that things are going well with Summit County Ambulance lately.  The fire districts have met twice recently with SCA and Flight for Life and have definitely made progress.  Copper Mountain Fire continues to have concerns with expenditure reimbursements models proposed.  Director Griffin noted that, at this time, Lake Dillon Fire may not be prepared to move forward and we should continue working with SCA to integrate both our resources.

To assist newly appointed Directors Gallagher and Keating, Chief Green summarized the history between RWB and SCA in regards to the ambulance transport issues. The conversations with SCA regarding transport issues began about eight years ago when RWB became concerned over delays.  SCA only has three staffed ambulances in Summit County but they are constantly relocating and even transport to Denver.  RWB began hiring paramedics and they purchased squads to be capable of assisting with patient care and transport.  RWB’s stance is that we believe one ambulance should be available at all times in Breckenridge but we have met resistance in the past from SCA over these issues.  In 2007, RWB and Flight for Life submitted applications for ambulance transport licenses, but SCA requested us to put our application on hold while a review of the countywide service situation could be done.  This was done in 2008 and out of that came ideas for several different models, one of which is a fire based model, which we supported developing.  There is a new director at SCA and he has started working with us on these issues.  In April 2009, our two agencies developed a patient transport mutual aid agreement with SCA where if they do not have an ambulance available to promptly respond in the Breckenridge area then RWB can transport the patient.  This so far is working fairly well, but there are still some issues. 

Director Gothard noted that one of the main issues here as that it does not make sense to have two agencies respond to the same call, unless necessary, and that it is very inefficient.  Chief Green also stated that continuity of patient care is very important, and it is well documented that the more times a patient is transferred from caregiver to caregiver the more errors occur.  We will soon have the same medical director which will help as well.  We have discussed co-location of resources, having SCA move into one of our stations and close one of their facilities and we would still assist with local transports and continue to refine our mutual aid agreement. Chief Miller noted that when SCA 2 is not available in Breckenridge then they send another ambulance here, which then in turn leaves another area uncovered, and if we can work together then this won’t need to happen and RWB will get the next ambulance call instead.  Chief Green said that we would have to define the boundaries for dispatching services, and this plan would reduce our call volume.  Director Gallagher noted that if we pursue this avenue then the issues with Copper will not be relevant and we still would not have our own transport license.  Director Perkins stated that we do not have to have our own license to transport if we operate under SCA’s license.  Director Gothard expressed concern about being able to count on this agreement long term and noted that SCA would be able to set our standards.  Chief Green said we are still in a position to pursue our own license if need be, but he is optimistic about the progress being made as of late.  If we continue on this path to work with SCA, then Flight for Life may still need to get their own transport license but will continue to work with us.  Director Perkins said she would still be interested in Lake Dillon being a part of this and is optimistic that their part of Summit County may be well covered also.  Director Gallagher asked why SCA would not want us to have our own transport license, and Director Gothard answered for budgetary reasons, the loss of revenue to SCA’s current model.  Chief Green finished the discussion stating that RWB will continue to aggressively move forward with SCA for now. 

8.0   Monthly Financials
January Income Statement
Chief Green reviewed the variance statement, noting that any variance over 5% would be listed.  The supplies/administration/Board Meeting/planning line is 32% over, but much of that was part of the accreditation process approved by the Board. The EMS line variance is attributed to the 1st quarter annual contracts for the cardiac monitors and the capitol outlay line is over because replacement of a cardiac monitor was necessary.  The building maintenance line variance represents a continuation of the CIP and the Main Station had HVAC issues with the heat.  The short term disability line will only go over budget if someone else ends up on short term disability this year.  Many of the other lines that were over are related to payments just made in the first quarter of the year and these lines are not expected to go over budget. 

Approval of January Claims Detail
Director Gothard asked about the springs for Engine 6 and if we were possibly loading the engine too heavy, but Chief Green stated that it is loaded within the engine’s specifications.  M/S Perkins, Gallagher to approve claims as presented for January 2010.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion carried. 

9.0   Other Business
Update and Discussion Old Hire Pension Surviving Spouse Benefit
Carmen stated that in checking with FPPA that our amendment to the Old Hire Pension By-laws is not within pension law.  We would need to have an amendment equal to both pensioners.  Carmen also noted that the auditors were recently here and it went very well and the audit will be presented at the next BOD meeting.

Presentation of Financing Options for Ladder Truck
Three banks presented their financing options for the new ladder truck.

Alpine Bank presented first by Bill Souba.  He recommended a ten year plan with one payment per year, with additional fees estimated at about $500.  The fixed rate would be at 4.72% and the truck would be the collateral on the loan. 

The second presentation was from US Bank, given by Russ Ahrenholtz and Stuart List.  Their government bank department recommends a lease purchase agreement.  Usually US Bank lends money to existing customers so he recommends we open at least one checking account with them.  Their treasury department is in Minneapolis and they can offer a rate of 3.99% which can be locked in for 13 days, after which that rate is subject to change.  Russ recommended a 10 year plan with two payments per year estimated at $48,000.  The fees were estimates at a few thousand dollars. 

The final presentation was by Wells Fargo by conference call and it was noted prior to the phone call that Wells Fargo has almost all of our current debt services.  John Self presented a government rebate program being offered in 2009 and 2010 which offers a 35% rebate, which is historically low.  He said the all in rate would be at 4.15 – 4.22%, with fees about $500 a year and legal fees estimated between $5,000 - $7500.  He also stated that he would also keep an eye on refinancing options in the future. 

After the three presentations, the Directors engaged in discussions regarding each proposal and outlined several questions that remained.  Carmen said she would get these answers and they would proceed from there.

Designated Election Official Drawing of Candidate Names for Ballot Order
Chief Scott said that there will be three, four-year terms and one, two-year term open. Names were placed in a hat, and the order in which they were drawn will be the order in which their names are placed on the ballot on May 4, 2010.  Names were drawn for the four-year term first, and the order will be:  1 – Gary Gallagher, 2 – Sarah Vosburgh, 3 – Teresa Perkins, 4 – John Raymond, 5 – Arch Gothard, 6 – John Warnick.  For the two-year term the order will be:  1 – David Abraham, 2 – James Keating Jr., 3 – Julie Jones.  Chief Scott noted that if any of the candidates spend more than $20 on their campaign it must be reported to the Secretary of State.  Although the election is being held in combination with the Upper Blue Sanitation District’s election, there are separate voter lists and separate ballots. Director Griffin recommended that we put together a “meet the candidates” type of forum to allow the public to learn more about them. 

10.0   Adjournment
M/S Perkins, Gallagher to adjourn BOD meeting at 10:25am.  Voice vote, unanimous.  Motion passed.

The next meeting of the Red, White & Blue Fire District Board of Directors will be held on March 31, 2010 at 0700.