GILPIN COUNTY – Congressman Joe Neguse visited Gilpin County on October 22, touring Timberline Fire Protection District’s Station 3 construction site and meeting with staff and volunteers at the Gilpin County Food Pantry.

Background on Station 3

The building at 19126 Highway 119, now Timberline Fire’s Station 3, was formerly the Fritz Peak Observatory, operated as an aeronomy research station. After sitting vacant for years, it was acquired by TFPD at auction in 2022 for public safety use.

In 2024, TFPD received approximately $900,000 in federal funding for the Station 3 project, which will make the station more appropriate for firefighting. Neguse's office helped secure the grant.

TFPD was also awarded $200,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture to support the project, though securing the funds has proven challenging. The project now has an estimated cost of $2.4 million.

Current situation

At Station 3, Neguse was greeted by Administrative Chief Jennifer Hinderman, Construction Manager Michael Krische of KCI Construction, several Timberline employees, and Board of Directors Vice President John Bushey. 

The group walked through the active construction site, where framing and foundation work are underway. The new addition, which will include apparatus bays, upgraded workspaces, and a cistern, is expected to be completed by April.

I asked Neguse how he and his office could assist Timberline, which has faced delays with USDA funding even before the shutdown of the federal government . To Hinderman’s surprise and relief, Neguse said his office would personally join the department’s upcoming Zoom meeting with their USDA agent. 

“We’ll certainly lean in with USDA,” he said. “We’ve done that previously with Loveland Fire Rescue. There’s always potential issues with getting those invoices paid out, but we leaned in and got it resolved. We’ll do the same here.”

Food pantry in need

After touring the station, Neguse traveled to the Gilpin County Food Pantry, where he met with Commissioner Jeff Aiken, staff, volunteers, and Food Pantry Coordinator Corinne Keller. 

Keller said that while demand has remained steady, the pantry will sadly not be able to provide Thanksgiving turkeys this year due to supply and funding limitations.

“We have in the past,” she said, “but with what’s going on, I don’t know if that’s going to be something that we’re going to be able to continue to do.”

Neguse spoke about the looming federal “benefits cliff” that could affect SNAP and emergency food programs if the government remains closed. Millions of people will lose their food stamps if the shutdown continues. SNAP benefits are already on hold for the month of November.

“We’re talking about real devastation,” he said. “USDA has the resources. I mean, they have the authority with undisbursed funds to be able to avert the cliff. I think their willingness, or rather their refusal, to do so—and my sense is that as we continue to build public pressure and people lifting their voices, they may change their thinking on that."

The group also discussed the new County-funded food pantry under construction behind the outdated modular building currently in use. Once complete, the $2.4 million expanded facility will allow for additional storage, volunteer space, a community kitchen, offices, and more operating days each week.

Lending a hand

Before leaving, the congressman helped unload a food delivery truck alongside volunteers, and thanked staff for their work. “Credit to your county commissioners,” he said. “One of them reached out to me earlier this week and said, ‘We have a real crisis on our hands.’ She’s the reason I decided to come by.”

Looking ahead

Neguse said his office will stay in contact with both Timberline and the County to assist where possible and plans to return in the spring to see Timberline’s completed station.

His visit to Gilpin County was one stop on a busy day traveling across Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District. After meeting with local leaders in Gilpin, he and his team continued west through the mountain corridor, ending the day with a town hall meeting in Fraser.

Those wishing to help the Food Pantry help local families can donate funds through Stripe at buff.ly/Eckes6Z, volunteer during extended hours beginning November 3 by calling Corinne at 720-432-6120, or donate food (especially turkeys). Visit buff.ly/2Km5KXB  for a list of most-needed items and drop-off information.