GOLDEN GATE CANYON - During a regular meeting on March 27, 2025, the Golden Gate Fire Protection District Board voted to purchase tablets to connect with FirstNet. Board members present were Deb Curlee, Presiden; Marith Reheis, Secretary; Niffy Ovuworie, Vice-President and Treasurer; Steve Green; and Dave Primmer.

Primmer and Green asked that a review of credit cards be added to the agenda. The Board approved minutes for February 27, 2025, with an amendment that Green left the meeting early, before the executive session at the last meeting. Green and Primmer voted not to approve the minutes.

During the Chief’s report, Chief Kyle Benson and Operations Chief Chris Enright introduced a request to fund nine new tablets that will be connected to FirstNet for communications services. Benson noted that there are two parts to this spending authorization.

Enright wrote in a memo that the Operations Division is requesting the procurement of portable touchscreen tablets with cellular data connectivity in order to dramatically enhance situational awareness and firefighter safety in delivering safe and effective responses.

Enright’s memo includes the following information: After careful analysis and comparison of options from two carriers, Operations recommended the purchase of nine Android tablets, one for each frontline/primary apparatus, and one per chief officer.

These will be fully integrated into the dispatching systems, situational awareness tools, and best practices used by our partner and surrounding agencies. This acquisition will be supplemented as budget allows with the conversion (porting) of existing Google Voice agency phone numbers for Chief Benson and Enright to FirstNet.

FirstNet, a service run by AT&T under contract from the FirstNet Authority (a US Government entity) provides a dedicated service package supplementing and independent of other cellular networks, with contractually mandated uptimes, automatic and integrated preemption of commercial traffic, subsidized pricing, and nationwide support.

T-Mobile offers a competitive similar product as a commercial rate plan intended for first responders, with preemption during congestion, better propagation in mountainous terrain, and a broader spectrum of network, as well as a future integration with Starlink for cell-network free operation.

(Preemption is a prioritization of specific users to take precedence over other traffic, meaning that the Department’s data and communications would get through first and without any additional effort.)

FirstNet Unlimited monthly costs for a customer-owned smartphone is $79.98. The monthly plan subtotal for the Department is $359.91.

Enright told the Board that this is technology beyond a portable radio. “It’s taking us from mid-2000 to today. Firefighters will be able to communicate directly with dispatchers.

“When we have a major incident, and everyone takes out their cell phones that overwhelms the system. With FirstNet, band 14 is available for officers to use.”

The Department is requesting nine Android tablets, which will be fully connected with all tools.  

Green asked, “Why do we have to be preemptive? How many of those things can’t you do on the radio? He added that it will cost $5,400 a year.

Ovuworie said “We don’t have a budget. We have a 10-grand contingency fund, but we are planning to use that for the audit for at least $6,000.” Benson pointed out a budget line for software and ESO.

Benson said they are paying for a land line and could use that as a backup. Ovuworie said that six tablets will work operationally. DeeDee Ramstetter said that they can ask the auxiliary for help.

Primmer said that it wasn’t posted on the agenda, and Green agreed that it’s not well advertised. “The executive committee leaves us out of everything,” he complained. Reheis said it got on the agenda.

Later in the meeting, the item came up on the agenda, and Ovuworie moved to purchase six tablets. The motion passed with Green abstaining for lack of information.

Ovuworie requested approval to amend the budget up to $15,000 for an audit, and approval for the Executive Committee to enter into a contract with a firm once one is selected. He said he would like to have approval now.

Green said that, once again, one person is taking over the Board. Reheis said they have one bid for $8,000, but they want some leeway. Curlee seconded the motion. Primmer said, “I don’t know why I can’t see the bid.” Reheis said “We need to act on it fairly soon or not get an audit.” The motion passed, with Green and Primmer voting no.

Board members now have a list of credit cards, and Primmer and Green wanted to review the list. Primmer said that the list does not match what’s on the internet. There are a number of discrepancies. Green said he compared the credit cards to the transaction list and that they don’t match at all.

He complained that the District is using six credit cards and there is no consistency. “How are credit cards being paid in the missing months?” he queried. “It’s not in line with bookkeeping. Charges are not explained on the transaction list. It is very sloppy bookkeeping.”

Green handed out a document showing the comparison between credit cards and the transaction list. It showed a total of $27,781.71 on the transaction list and $72,218 in credit card expenses for 2024.

Primmer introduced a review of statistics on Front Range chiefs’ salaries. He said the average full-time salary is $90,000 to $100,000. “We’re at $80,000. The Chief is doing a wonderful job.”

Ovuworie moved an approval to increase Chief's compensation to budgeted amount based on performance review, and back date pay to 1 January 2025. He said “He worked for the first half of the year without a raise. Look at how the district has improved. His performance is exemplary.”

The motion passed with Primmer and Green voting nay.

Under Community Organization Reports, the Grange President announced they will have an Eggmania event on April 19.

The next regular Board meeting will be on April 24, 2025, at 7 p.m., at The Grange, 25201 Golden Gate Canyon Rd. For more information, go to https:// MAIN - Golden Gate Fire Protection District.