Firefighters Association hosts first ESD town hall

The Colorado County Firefighters Association hosted their first Emergency Services District town hall meeting in Weimar last Thursday, Feb. 20 in an effort to raise awareness about why they need the ESD to function.

About 60 to 70 people were in attendance for the town hall held in Weimar, which was the first of six town halls to be held across Colorado County. The five other meetings are set to take place in Nada (March 6), Rock Island (March 11), Eagle Lake (March 20), Frelsburg (April 3) and lastly Columbus (April 10).

In attendance at the Weimar town hall were the Columbus Mayor Lori An Gobert, Weimar Mayor Milton Koller, Colorado County Judge Ty Prause, Colorado County Precinct 2 Commissioner Ryan Brandt and Weimar City Manager Richard Whitten.

The Columbus VFD, Weimar VFD, Bernardo VFD, Oak Ridge VFD and Oakland VFD were also in attendance.

The town halls, in addition to raising awareness, are required by law to be held, “giving residents a chance to ask questions and provide input, ensuring community involvement in every financial decision.”

The tax cap listed on the ballot, $0.10 per $100, is considered to be the state constitution maximum, but the ESD board is “not required to tax at this rate.”

The actual tax rate set by the ESD board is to be determined by the district’s budget needs and revenue projection and can be “set lower than the tax cap.” When asked at the town hall “who is requesting the Emergency Services District,” Columbus VFD Captain Anna Schultz responded and elaborated on a Facebook post about who needs it and why; the “many firefighters throughout Colorado County.” She cites that they are the ones who see “firsthand” the demands, lack of funding and life-threatening risks and poses a realistic scenario these departments are facing due to a lack of being able to afford current costs.

“Imagine being trapped inside your home as a fire spreads, expecting firefighters to arrive, rescue you and put out the fire,” said Schultz. “Now imagine them showing up with a 24-year-old fire engine that desperately needed a pump repair, but the department was told it wasn’t in the budget. That very pump failed during a structure fire recently. We were actively fighting the fire when suddenly the hose went limp, and we lost water; the pump had failed. We were ready to fight, but our equipment failed us. Neighbors were standing at the fence, watching in disbelief, seeing firsthand what happens when fire departments are forced to work with unreliable equipment due to limited funding. Thankfully, no civilians or firefighters were inside the structure when the pump failed. But what if they had been? The outcome could easily have been a tragic loss of life. This is the reality we’re facing; this is why we need the Colorado County ESD #1.”

Schultz further elaborated on the financial struggles departments have been facing which could result in dangerous situations where the outcome isn’t as fortunate as previously stated. She says the harsh reality is that “local fire departments” are struggling with “outdated equipment, limited resources, and increasing demands.” Without adequate funding, Schultz says failures like this “will” happen again.

“This is more than a budget line item; it’s about protecting lives and our community. We must stand together and invest in the safety of every citizen and every firefighter,” said Schultz. “If you haven’t already, now is the time to step up and support your fire departments before it’s too late. That 24-year-old engine (with no funding in place for pump repairs) actually needs to be replaced, but that’s definitely not in the budget. An engine currently costs $600,000 - $900,000 and that’s just the apparatus. Equipment such as extrication tools, hoses, radios, etc., add tens of thousands of dollars on top of that. Colorado County ESD #1 will provide sustainable funding to ensure firefighters have safe, reliable equipment to protect you and your family. Don’t wait until it’s your home, don’t wait until it is too late.”