RBC | Last week we published the Q&As from the candidates for the rec district board. This week we have the interviews from the four candidates running for two open seats on the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District board, and next week we’ll publish the Q&As for the hospital board. Here are the questions asked of the candidates:
1. What previous experience do you have with board leadership or community recreation programs?
2. What direct experience or involvement have you had with fire protection services in our community?
3. How would you balance the district’s budget priorities between equipment, staffing, and training?
4. Do you have any professional or personal relationships that could present conflicts of interest?
5. How familiar are you with Colorado’s Sunshine Laws and public meeting requirements, and how would you ensure compliance?
6. What is your view on term limits for board members, and do you support efforts to bring in fresh leadership?
7. How would you support volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention?
8. What do you see as the most critical issues facing the fire protection district today?
9. How would you improve transparency and public communication from the board?
10. What is your vision for the fire protection district over the next five years?
Charles Day
1. My experiences serving on boards include serving on the Town of Meeker Board for the past year and serving on the Meeker Sanitation Board since 2019. I have also been an EMT and Firefighter since 2019; both of these positions directly serve public safety and require consistent leadership skills.
2. My involvement with the Meeker Volunteer Fire Department began in 2018 with a class provided by the department from 2018-2019. As soon as I was able, I joined the department as both an EMT-B, and a firefighter. I have been on countless calls and want to see the district and community continue to flourish.
3. Balancing the budget takes continuous diligence and awareness of current needs. At this time I believe we can continue to train with the current equipment, while keeping an open mind for growth when needed. I would continue the current equipment rotation schedule to properly maintain adequate reliability and safety for both the volunteers and the public. Staff retention enhances the quality of the department, therefore, maintaining competitive wages is an important aspect of the budget. I understand the necessity of keeping a good reserve in place and intend to protect the current state of the reserves.
4. A potential conflict of interest could involve any issues that involve fellow volunteers, due to the fact that I work hand in hand with all of them. Stated this potential issue is important; transparency on a board is crucial. This is why it is important to have a combination of currently serving volunteers and candidates from the general public to properly ensure a stable, efficient board.
5. Colorado’s Sunshine Laws are a familiar topic to me due to serving as a Town Trustee. It is the open meetings act dictating what has to be an open meeting and also regulates the open records act. I would ensure compliance by referring direct questions to Fire Staff for information and conducting meetings open to the public whenever possible. The few, if any, executive sessions will have a clear purpose and need.
6. I am in favor of term limits on any board to ensure fresh, innovative ideas. I also believe that term limits help dissuade corruption due to the limited time in office where new members will come in and evaluate previous term actions.
7. I would support recruitment to MVFD in the same way it has been the past few years. I have been in the department, and have watched how the people who feel called to serve the community join. From my perspective, most MVFD volunteers serve the department for a long stretch of time. Volunteers leave because of conflicting time constraints or moving away from Meeker.
8. The most critical issue facing the department today is the ability to swiftly evacuate any potential victims from a second story or above in the event of a structure fire. Another aspect of this issue is the safe access to a roof. This issue became apparent during the last two structure fires when the roofs became unstable. This issue will be remedied with the use of a ladder truck and proper training.
9. I would improve transparency between the board and the public by encouraging the public to attend meetings and ask questions. Information is also shared on the MVFD website (https://www.meekerrescue.com).
10. In the next five years, my vision is that the department will remain volunteer driven and focused on public safety. I support the current mission – Our mission is to protect life and property and to enhance the well-being of all those that we serve.
Dave Lawson
1. I have served a two year term on a public charter school board. On this board I was tasked with transportation and policy. In regards to public safety I was a wildland firefighter with the USFS for one season, I was a member of Carbondale Fire Department in the 90’s, I spent 20 years with Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and retired as a sergeant. While with the Sheriff’s Office I was a member of the Wildland Fire team.
2. I have years of experience in public safety and fire protection and can bring that knowledge to this community.
3. To effectively balance the budget of a volunteer organization, you will need to prioritize needs, see what resources you have, and see how you can continue to reduce costs effectively. The best training for the volunteers is essential. Communication with the Chief is essential to make sure their needs are met.
4. No.
5. Having prior board experience in a public school and also in a supervisory role in a government agency we had to adhere to the applicable rules. Whether it was in regards to employee personnel matters or public records and what could be released. I would continue to follow these rules as set forth by Colorado law under section 24 CRS.
6. Term limits can allow for a more diverse pool of individuals to hold positions. It can help with current changes that non term limited individuals may not see. On the other side you can have loss of experience and expertise. More complex issues are sometimes better understood by long standing individuals. Making sure that you have a staggering board is essential.
7. To always support your volunteers you first need to make sure that they know their feedback is always welcome. You also want to make sure they understand their role. You want to always make sure that the volunteer feels welcome and supported. To recruit and retain, make sure you have trust and respect. You must have good leadership. The Rio Blanco County Fire Protection District has made great decisions on the leadership it currently has and I feel this has helped with the current membership.
8. Growth and proper spending. As the district’s population increases there will be challenges to maintain the level of services. With the growth will come an increase in calls for services that can strain a volunteer department. Proper equipment, training and members will be crucial. The district needs a facility to train its volunteers properly and more locally. It is hard to properly train volunteers with their busy schedules away from the district.
9. All notices of meetings are published. The public is always welcome to attend board meetings and minutes are posted. Public input is always welcome.
10. Over the next five years I would like to be a trusted and effective partner with the community. I would like to continue to foster a culture of continuous improvement and maintain community engagement. I see the continuing need to invest in training and development opportunities for all members. We need to make sure we are prepared for the future and our goals will meet those needs.
Summer Lomax
1. I served as the President and Founder of Shenanigans, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food to the homeless. Our mission focused on preparing meals and delivering them directly to those in need within our local community. In 2003, I graduated from the Police Academy and subsequently earned my Bachelor’s degree in Social and Criminal Justice. In addition, I spent 7 years working in child protection to keep children in the community safe. Throughout my career, I have remained deeply committed to supporting public servants who work tirelessly to benefit their communities.
2. I am relatively new to the community and eager to become more involved. While I do not have prior experience with fire protection services in this area, I am committed to learning and contributing to the safety and well-being of our community.
3. Balancing the fire district’s budget is essential to maintaining effective operations and ensuring the safety of both the community and our personnel. The first step would be to conduct a thorough assessment of current needs and available resources. Prioritization should then be guided by the potential impact of each expenditure, ensuring that critical areas such as staffing, equipment, and training are adequately funded. A strategic spending plan must be developed, with clear guidelines and performance metrics, and it should be closely monitored to ensure adherence and adjust as needed to address emerging priorities. This approach will help optimize resource allocation while maintaining operational readiness and safety.
4. I do not.
5. Colorado’s Sunshine Laws consist of two key components: the Open Meetings Law and the Open Records Act. These laws are designed to promote transparency and accountability in government by ensuring that public meetings and records are accessible to the public. I strongly support the inclusion of the community in attending meetings, as it upholds the principles of transparency and fosters greater trust between government entities and the public they serve.
6. Term limits promote the infusion of new talent and facilitate the inclusion of members with fresh perspectives and skills, which are essential for enhancing diversity and preventing the concentration of power within a community. Maintaining a balance between fresh leadership and experienced, long-term leaders ensures continuity, fosters knowledge transfer, and strengthens the overall stability and growth of the community.
7. I would support volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention by promoting community outreach, providing quality training, offering incentives and recognition, ensuring a positive and supportive department culture, and advocating for resources that help balance volunteering with personal and professional commitments.
8. The most critical issues facing the fire protection district today include recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters, securing adequate funding for equipment and training, managing increasing call volumes, and ensuring firefighter safety and well-being. Addressing these challenges is essential to maintaining effective emergency response and community protection.
9. I would improve transparency and public communication by ensuring board meetings are open and well-publicized, posting meeting minutes and financial reports online, using social media and newsletters for updates, and actively engaging the community through forums and surveys. Clear, consistent communication helps build trust and keeps the public informed.
10. My vision for the fire protection district over the next five years is to strengthen volunteer recruitment and retention, secure sustainable funding for equipment and training, and enhance community outreach and fire prevention education. I aim to support firefighter well-being and foster transparency between the board and the public. By prioritizing these areas, we can ensure a safer, more resilient community and a well-equipped, dedicated fire department.
J’Leah Richardson
1. I have served on the Rio Blanco Fire District Board of Directors for three years. Before that, I served on the department’s internal Pension Board.
2. I am an active member of both the Fire and EMS services. This will be my sixth year as an active member.
3. Being an Active Member has given me an inside look at what is needed daily. In my current position on this board, I have assisted with the budget and ensured we meet our requirements. Training budgets have been established to keep our volunteers current and up to date with requirements directed at the State and National levels. We support our members getting the supplies and training required to do their jobs. In my current board position, I have assisted other board members and the Chief in overseeing the equipment replacement/updates. We have set requirements for when things need to be updated. The majority of our members are volunteers. We have a paid Chief, Administrative Assistant, and Medical Director. The volunteers are the backbone of the department.
4. No.
5. I have been learning these for the last three years. Our board reviews and implements these laws at every meeting. Keeping up with any required compliance, legislation, or rule updates is essential, which keeps the board honest and transparent.
6. Term limits are essential in bringing in new ideas. However, a new director should see what has worked in the past and what has improved upon or changed in the future. This is why I decided to get on the board with my first term. It has given me tools to apply to my daily and professional life. I’m able to look at things with a more business-minded perspective. Being a part of this board has been an honor. I look forward to continuing to serve our community with one more term. Meeker is evolving, and I look forward to guiding our department through new challenges.
7. We are volunteers, so that immediately creates challenges. Fire/EMS is a specialized service that is not for everyone. I have visited with some of our youth and invited them to come and see what we do. To anyone else in our community, if you are service-driven and enjoy helping your community, come down and visit with us. It is essential to get information out in our community. What can the Rio Blanco County Fire District offer a volunteer? Leadership skills, team building, and problem solving. This department is evolving, changing our requirements and updating policies and procedures. Benefits are provided to those members who qualify.
8. The most critical issue is keeping our department volunteer-based. Finding volunteers who can get away from their jobs and responsibilities to go on calls is tough. It is also hard to find individuals who can and want to go through some of the training that might be required. We are truly blessed now that many people make these sacrifices. This topic has always been on my mind regarding keeping our department unique.
9. I invite the public to get involved. Come to our monthly meetings, see what we discuss, and see what this department does to serve our community and keep it safe.
10. My vision for the department is to continue growing with our community. I would also love to see more community members become members. This department is already evolving in some ways. We continue educating our members and updating equipment as needed to meet community needs. More volunteers would also be an excellent addition to keep this department growing.