By Ted Ballard

The status of Engine 32 and Fire Protection for the Home Owners Associations (HOA)s by the Silver West Airport south of town on Hwy. 69, was the main topic of discussion during the December 11 meeting held by the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District (WMFPD).
Back in 2017, the four HOAs, Centennial Ranch, Cuerno Verde, Timber Ridge, and Silver West asked WMFPD if they could put a fire truck and possibly a fire substation, at the Silver West Airport for better response time for fire protection In 2017, Rob Klein of Centennial Ranch, bought a used class A pumper fire engine for $32,000, known as Engine 32 and thanks to Silver West Airport authorities, housed Engine 32 at the airport. Klein and the WMFPD board set up a two-year lease at $1.00/year with the understanding that at the end of two years, Klein would be paid $32,000 to cover the initial cost. Klein stated at the meeting that he bought Engine 32 to help the WMPFD provide better fire protection for all four HOAs and was of the understanding that these HOAs would help the WMFPD in paying him back by the end of the two-year lease period. Klein said he did this with goodwill to help protect his fellow neighbors.
It was brought up by one of the HOA representatives, that he had no idea there was such a lease and he suspected many of the other HOA property owners knew nothing about this lease. In October of 2019, Teri Munson, the WMFPD clerk, had sent out a letter dated October 23rd, to the four HOAs about helping pay half the cost of a fully- equipped Engine 32 (equipment needed to comply with fire protection requirements). The letter contained an itemized list of equipment and cost for each piece of equipment. The cost of Engine 32 then was the $32,000 plus the required equipment to give a total of $51,015.68. The HOAs were given 60 days to comply with helping to pay for the cost of Engine 32. This created a bit of a firestorm, (pardon the pun) and some of the HOA representatives went to the WMFPD board meeting in November to discuss paying the cost for Engine 32. Discussion regarding funding Engine 32 at the WMFPD meeting in November was a bit informal and although some of the HOA members agreed some sort of payment should be made, there was nothing formalized.
During the December WMFPD board meeting last week, more HOA members were present. There were 38 people attending the meeting to include the seven board members. There was additional discussion as to whether Engine 32 was actually needed in the WMFPD inventory. Board member Dave Tonsing talked of the multiple fire protection areas around Custer County, and rough terrain and distances needed to travel to get adequate response times. Tonsing felt that Engine 32 was vital in helping to meet their fire protection plan and in protecting lives and property around the airport area. Fire Chief Kit Shy echoed Tonsing’s concerns and Shy discussed the six fire engines they maintain and operate along with their capabilities. Chief Shy discussed the Westcliffe firehouse and substations and the protection of town structures and protection of lives and property within the towns proper and outlying areas. Chief Shy informed all of the Type 1 engine pumper requirements fire trucks must meet, and how the WMFPD best provides fire protection in the county now and in the future. Chief Shy also mentioned the district’s requirements to protect transient drivers along the long stretch of Hwy. 69 past Rosita Road along the airport, and how Engine 32 was a necessary part of that protection. Further discussion ensued with regards to meeting the Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings in gaining a better public protection classification, by having adequate fire- fighting equipment to include buried water tanks in strategic locations and enough fire trucks to accomplish adequate fire protection. After all these discussions, it was determined that Engine 32 was a vitally needed piece of equipment to meet solid fire protection.
More discussion occurred as to how to pay for Engine 32. Since it is a used piece of equipment, it was found that grants, such as that from the El Pomar Foundation, a grant could not be used to pay for Engine 32. It was stated by one HOA that since a request for money went out to pay for Engine 32, there have been several people saying they would help pay by donation. That brought another discussion on having donations through non-profits for tax deductions and that may get more people to donate. Representatives from the HOAs are hesitant to go to their combined 1,123 home owners to ask for special assessments in dealing with the logistics in getting the word out for a special vote, especially with the time constraints shortly after the first of the year. HOA representatives did seem confident they could get matching funds to pay for Engine 32 by asking for donations. It was then asked why the HOAs are being asked to help pay for the engine and if any HOAs in the past have ever had to do this. The only precedent was back in the mid- 1980s, when the Hermit Basin HOA around the now defunct Conquistador Ski Resort, bought a Class A pumper for fire protection that they eventually
donated to the WMFPD. Other HOAs have donated land for substations and land to bury water tanks for fire protection.
With all these discussions, it now went back to the WMFPD board members to come up with a motion to look into paying for Engine 32, with matching funds from the four HOAs, and the WMFPD. Board member Dave Tonsing started a motion early on to propose funding for Engine 32 that remained tabled for a long period of time without a second, pending all the discussions that followed. Finally, after nearly an hour and half of discussions, Tonsing came up with a motion stating that the WMFPD would commit to paying $16,000 before the next WMFPD board meeting on January 8, 2020, and match a combined $16,000 from the four HOAs mentioned, with the monies to be collected by March 31, 2020, to pay Rob Klein, and the engine will be wholly- owned and operated by the WMFPD. The motion was seconded by board member Scott Virden. All board members voted to pass the motion. There was further discussion after as to whether there should be a written contract indicating that Engine 32, or a comparable Fire Engine Class A pumper would always be located in the same approximate area to provide fire protection now and into the future.

Editor’s Note: $16,000 divided by 1,123 home owners equals $14.25 each. What a deal!

Printed with permission of The Valley Beat.