Fire barn mill levy passes

By Linda Bell
Correspondent

By a 6-to-1 margin, residents of Red Feather Lakes Volunteer Fire Protection District approved a 1.9-mill increase to complete funding for new ambulance bays and a new fire barn.

Construction will begin in July, according to Karen Rudisaile, president of the fire district board.

The mill levy provides matching funding to a $152,500 grant awarded to the district by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, through an Energy and Minerals Grant.

In addition, the Red Feather Lakes Lions Club is donating $14,600 to the building fund. Paul Shank, president of the club, said the money is from income earned from the television tower the Lions erected on Black Mountain in 1976. The tower equipment was decommissioned and sold in 1999. Shank said in 1976 it was agreed that any profits from the transmitter would be returned to the community. Prior to this year, he said, the Lions gave approximately $500 a year to the fire district to help fund the paramedic program.

Rudisaile said the overwhelming mandate given to the district by voters was uplifting to the entire department. "It makes us realize people really appreciate what we do," she said, "and we are very grateful for that."