Actually sir, your insurance company would be pleased to know that anyone who comes onto your property to fight a wildland fire is certified to do the job. The last thing your insurance company wants is to have a bunch of out of shape, poorly trained folks out there unable to protect your home. Or worse yet, getting themselves hurt in the process.

You said that $'s don't equate to better service, think we can all agree to that. You said Elk Creek with their lower mill rate provides the same insurance level as Inter-Canyon does with a higher mill rate. So why do you want to change the Board? What plan does Grady have to improve what's already happening?

Change to get new blood? Greg Branch is new blood with no ties to the other Board members - Greg does represaent the Park County part of Elk Creek's district.
Yea but Greg was appointed, why hold this against him when Grady wanted to be an apointee too?

What balance does Grady bring? So far I haven't seen any new ideas or thoughts from Grady that differ from Greg or Alec. We just had a change to the Board when they added Greg. I for one don't want to see another change just for the sake of change.

Please tell me why?

Yes they were, and you can watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWGen-Go ... ture=g-upl

I have no dog in this fight, as I no longer own property in the district, and I liked what all three candidates (assuming that the representative for Greg Branch represented him accurately) had to say at the Presentation/Q&A - they all made sense to me, but I know Grady personally and he's one of the most upstanding, moral, open-minded, caring, actively-invested-in-this-community individuals I've met up here. We completely disagree politically, but he's never treated me with anything other than respect and friendship, and been willing to listen to my viewpoint.

What I see as a major problem at Elk Creek, and TillerBee aluded to it in their post, is a complete disconnect from the community. It wasn't until the Q&A that I learned that they have open-to-the-public board meetings; they announce nothing and are limited in what they share. And all 3 candidates seemed to support this kind of idea, but I know Grady understands the importance of it, and has already embraced it with his interests.

If they want the community to support them with things like mill levies, than increased public interaction seems essential. I don't know if mill levies are what they need, but Greg Branch's rep said that they are conducting studies to figure some of it out and I hope they make those results public. At some point, expensive equipment needs to be replaced, and the community needs to decide what level of service is provided (ie EMTs for 10 hours a day or for 24 hours a day, considering that the majority of calls are medical). It made sense to me what Alec Schwartz said that whether you get the government to give grants, or ask the community to pass a mill levy, either way it's coming out of the tax payers pocket... but shouldn't it be our own community supporting ECFD rather than asking people who live on the eastern plains to help support us?

Either way the election turns out, I think it behooves us all to get more involved. As we've witnessed with this fire, important lessons learned from past fires haven't been implemented, and there is a vast community support network that is untapped and a potentially game-changing resource.

The election is May 8th, and you have to vote in person at the fire station on Richmond Hill Rd from 7am-7pm.

I believe the portion you are referencing is in the sub division of WOODSIDE and I am much further down 285 than Woodside. JMO....the
strife I see here on the forum does NOT make me feel "warm and cozy"
and there appears to be MANY issues that have been "smoldering" for awhile........makes me wonder IF EFD has really resolved the "politics"
that have been the past problem.JMO
..

Simply, I am thinking of who would be best for the volunteer/paid mix and political balance IN THE FUTURE. Considering all of the scandals of the past, EFD is holding its own. Changing a board member will not be that difficult.

I'm heartsick. I just heard that Mike Bartlett, a ten year volunteer veteran of Elk Creek, a captain and a member of the board, has turned in his resignation.

There are some in this discussion who have insisted that the board has worked out all problems and works well together and there is no need for change. Well, shame on you!! I hold some on the current board and their backers, responsible for the loss of a seasoned, professional and valued volunteer. Instead of receiving recognition and thanks for all of his years of service, the unprofessional conduct of some has again resulted in the loss of an extremely needed and accomplished firefighter. Mike Bartlett, you will be missed. Your service is very much appreciated by citizens in this community. We are very sorry to see you go.

I did not say paid crews, the word was paid staff. Never were my words meant to infer paid firefighters. At the very next meeting I clarified my statement that I meant paid services. But keep on spinning.


By the way if things are so smooth on the board and within the department why did we just lose a 10 year veteran, a volunteer firefighter, a captain and a board member. There are now 3 vacancies on the board, 2 of which will be filled by this election and former director Bartlett’s seat will be filled in the future by guess who, another board appointment.

I am grateful the election topic has come to the forefront for this mountain
community. THIS election requires that everyone should do DUE DILIGENCE on May 8th. Since I live in Parkco,I will not be able to vote.

I will be observing the outcome.....JMO.......it doe NOT appear
that the political problems/posturing has been mitigated/corrected.....since
we just now have a NEW resignation......PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE......it
is your property/your very lives that are at stake......JMO......

I believe it was Mark Twain who said, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated." This seems to be a similar development.

Knowing you can’t always count on things you read on the Internet to be the gospel truth; I called the administrative offices at Elk Creek (303-816-9385) to confirm the news that a veteran firefighter had resigned. What I learned was that this gentleman did indeed resign from his position on the board, but as of about 15-minutes ago, was still a firefighter member in good standing with the department, a captain in fact.

My understanding is that he also turned in all of his gear. If in fact circumstances have changed and he has decided to remain a captain and a firefighter, then that is good news for all of us. There has never been a question about this gentleman's commitment to the community, one I wish everyone shared.

Mike was a good person to have on the board. His foremost thought was to serve the best interests of the citizens and he added so much value due to his direct knowledge. I'm sorry that the citizens of this district have lost an advocate for them on the board. Citizen representation and encouragement to attend board meetings, feel welcomed and get involved is very important and effort needs to be made toward that purpose.

[quote="SpudWrench"]It seems to me, as this spirited public debate moves forward, reasons for needing to make a change in the Elk Creek Fire Protection Board keep tumbling like dominos. The union is not the Evil Empire. No one is planning to make Elk Creek an all paid department. No one is asking for a mill levy increase. There is no rift between the paid and volunteer staff. The one thing that keeps coming up, time and time again is that Elk Creek is on the right track. They are serving their community with honor, and there is no good reason why they (the firefighters, officers, chief and board) should not be allowed to continue their good work.[/quote]

APPARENTLY,someone on the board DISAGREES with this statement.....IF
I am in err,please correct me. ONCE AGAIN, those who live in Jeffco should
do their DUE DILIGENCE in this election on May. 8th.....cast an INFORMED
vote and hope that the political strife is FINALLY put to rest....our mountain
community deserves political peace.JMO

From everything I can find out, Mike is a good firefighter and should be very proud of his volunteer service. I understand he has NOT turned in his gear or stepped down as a Captain. While I disagree with his politics most of the time I can’t argue that he gives more than his fair share to his community and the Elk Creek Fire Department. Often his actions are in direct conflict with his preaching’s. He hates charities but is often seen supporting them. He hates government but he ran and was elected to this Board. He hates government rules and standards. He is however a good guy, as long as you don’t bring up the word union.
Mike’s blind hatred of unions started long before there was one at Elk Creek Fire Department. Based on his livelihood he’s run into road blocks where non-union membership prevented him from getting work. While I agree that this stinks and I too dislike the unions blocking out non-union workers. However, just because I dislike unions I’m not so paranoid that I blame them for all my troubles in life like Mike does.
I also would disagree that he represented the community as a Board member, he votes based on his beliefs, but then again doesn’t every elected official? (At least until reelection time.) This is why it’s so important that we all find out what each of these candidates believes. So far they all seem the same:
Support the volunteers, seek new and more volunteers, support the new Chief, a few paid firefighters are OK, safety equipment for our volunteers, all without raising taxes.
Oh yea, when you’re not the one who is appointed use the word appointee as a curse word. But if you don’t get elected it will be OK to seek that appointed position. Perspective is always interesting.