It has been a turbulent year for the Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Protection District.
In May, the district’s long-standing board was completely replaced by newly elected members who campaigned on promises of greater transparency and stronger financial oversight. But in the months since taking office, the transition has coincided with public disagreements, staff and administrative turnover, and concerns from some residents about how the volunteer-based department is operating.
“It feels like a lot of this kind of fell apart after the elections last spring … and then the whole thing got put into disarray, and we lost a ton of really qualified volunteers,” said Ashley Smith, a resident within the district’s boundaries. “It shook public trust.”
After former board President Debbie Lee lost her seat in the election, her husband, then-fire chief John Lee, resigned soon after. Several paid staff members and longtime volunteers also stepped away from the department.
The departures left the district – which relies heavily on volunteer responders – under the oversight of an entirely new board.
Additional leadership changes followed. In recent months, board President Emily Horvath resigned after other board members threatened to step down. Public meetings since then have included disagreements over the department’s direction, hiring decisions and day-to-day management.
The district’s recently hired fire chief, Chris Gibbons, has also been the subject of discussion at recent meetings, with some community members questioning aspects of his resume and qualifications.
Ron Bakken, who previously served in a leadership role within the district, resigned, citing concerns about the department’s chain of command and how complaints were being addressed.
For some residents, the friction among district leadership raises concerns about how the organization is functioning.
“The tough thing here is, this is volunteer,” said Randy Kennedy, a district resident. “If they feel like they’re not appreciated, if they feel like it’s been disorganized – like they can't trust the person that’s supposed to be leading – people are not going to volunteer.”
If volunteers continue to leave, Kennedy worries it could have consequences for emergency response in the rural district.
“People that are on the fire department will leave,” he said. “Once all is said and done, those that suffer are the people expecting to have the fire department show up.”
He said he would like to see district leadership focus less on titles and power, and more on rebuilding trust, unity and mission. The district already has capable firefighters and officers, he said, but is being held back by internal conflicts, ego and resistance to change.
Others have said the board is working to improve the district’s structure and operations following the transition in leadership. However, the board president and administration did not respond to requests for comment regarding efforts to improve morale and restore community trust.
Public trust is critical for special districts like Fort Lewis Mesa to function effectively, said Ann Terry, CEO of the Special District Association of Colorado. Maintaining that trust can be challenging, she said, particularly during periods of change.
“Trust is much easier to lose than it is to regain,” Terry said.
Rebuilding it, she said, often requires a commitment to transparency and consistent communication with residents.
“Operate with integrity, not ego. Make decisions with objectivity, facts and fairness,” she said. “As stewards of taxpayer resources and public safety, those are key principles of ethical governance.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
