About the GJRFPD
The Grand Junction Rural Fire Protection District (GJRFPD) is located in unincorporated Mesa County, Colorado. The District includes more than 15,000 homes, commercial businesses, several schools, and large parcels of agriculture/open space. The GJRFPD includes properties located within areas of Orchard Mesa, the Redlands, Fruitvale, and the northwest areas outside of the City of Grand Junction.
A five-person elected Board of Directors oversees the budget, finances, and policies for the District under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 32 for governance of special districts. The Board contracts via an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Grand Junction Fire Department to provide professional, nationally accredited fire/EMS and all-hazards emergency services to the citizens and properties within the District’s boundaries surrounding the City of Grand Junction in unincorporated Mesa County.
Through a voter-authorized property tax mill levy and the receipt of specific ownership taxes, more than $2.8 million a year was directly funded to the City in 2023, with our administration overhead costs less than half of 1% per year. All firefighting personnel, support staff, stations, and apparatus/equipment are owned and directly operated by the Grand Junction Fire Department as per the IGA.
The Grand Junction Fire Department strives to provide fire and emergency medical services to the vast majority of residents in the District at an average response time of 7 minutes.*
Critical Benchmark Achievements by the City of Grand Junction Fire Department include:
Accreditation through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International was achieved in 2022 by the Grand Junction Fire Department
Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class Rating 2/2x
For more than 70 years, the GJRFPD has ensured that your property and family are protected by highly qualified, trained firefighters and medics as an important part of what is an all-hazard response team of career personnel seamlessly serving both the City and the District.
Statement of Purposes (Grand Junction Rural FPD) (PDF): This document serves as the service plan for GJRFPD.
Your safety is our first priority!
*City of Grand Junction data
History
The GJRFPD (the “District”) was formed in 1944 to provide fire protection to much of unincorporated Mesa County (excluding the Fruita / Gateway / Collbran / Mesa areas). At that time, and for a period of years afterwards, the District had an inventory of firefighting equipment and was overseen by a five-member volunteer board. Several years later the District was formally organized as a Title 32 Special District, continuing to function as the Grand Junction Rural Fire Protection District.
Unfortunately, early District history is not readily available and was mostly dependent on board members who were still alive in the 1980s and 90s (all of whom are now deceased). In 1994 the District formalized a Cooperative Agreement with the City of Grand Junction (the “City”) to provide fire fighting services (ambulance services were largely private-based at that time). As the relationship became more formalized, ultimately the District sold or donated all of its firefighting equipment inventory as City firefighters and apparatus were utilized.
In the late 1990s the District Board became interested and heavily involved in the effort to build a fire station on the Redlands; the area had grown extensively and a fire station was the subject of a great deal of discussion. The City of Grand Junction was in favor of the station, but funding was limited. However, the community wanted a fire station on the Redlands sooner than later, so the District entered into an agreement to provide some funding for equipment and personnel from the authorized property tax mill levy.
A ballot initiative to create the Redlands Sub-District with an increased mill levy was successfully brought to the Redlands community in 2002. Voters were asked to increase the mill levy on their property tax as well as provide an additional mill levy to the overall GJRFPD. This dual-mill levy funding was continued through 2022. Voters in the Redlands approved the dissolution of the Redlands Sub-District as of December 31, 2022 since it had fulfilled its original purpose for being formed.
The goal of the District Board is to ensure that the funding revenues received are managed responsibly to professionally deliver the fire and EMS/ambulance services required as specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) contract with the City of Grand Junction.
Board of Directors
Dave Parmley – President (970)418-8155
A native of Colorado, Dave was born and raised in Loveland, Colorado. He graduated from Mesa College (now Colorado Mesa University) with an Associate’s Degree and Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources (Outdoor Recreation major with emphasis on Public Administration). Upon graduation from CSU, he pursued a career as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service. What started out as a park ranger internship, he was employed by the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (National Park Service) on Lake Powell for three years, where he gained valuable experience and training credentials in law enforcement, emergency medical services, search & rescue, and firefighting.
From there, he took advantage of an opportunity to work at Keystone Resort and Ski Area in Risk Management and Security during a time of significant development and growth at the Resort in Summit County, Colorado. He actively participated in fire/EMS responses and led the Resort’s company fire brigade, which, within two years, evolved into the formation of the Snake River Fire Protection District. Dave served as the fire chief for 24 years for the Snake River FPD, with nine of those years in a shared position as the Risk Management Director for Keystone Resort. In 2005, the Snake River FPD merged with the Lake Dillon Fire Protection District. He was selected by the newly combined Board of Directors to serve as the fire chief until retiring in 2015.
He enjoys travel, mountain biking, camping, pickleball, and downhill skiing. The easy accessibility to enjoy these activities and the proximity to family in the Valley were significant factors in why he and his wife, Kathy, decided to relocate to Grand Junction. He also volunteers for the Food Bank of the Rockiest the Western Colorado Distribution Center. Dave and Kathy are involved with serving in various ministries with Life Community Church.
John Mayerik – Treasurer
John is 76 years old, married, and has been a resident in the Redlands since 2001. He has been on the Rural Fire Protection District Board since 2005.
He has a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from IIT in Chicago and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and he worked in sales and marketing for Monsanto, Ralston Purina, and Olin Corporation for about 12 years. He also owned a small business manufacturing and selling stainless steel hand tools for surgery for 23 years.
Duncan Brown – Director
Duncan is a Colorado native. He grew up in the mountains of the Front Range and, upon graduation from high school, joined the United States Navy. He spent four years in the Navy and was honorably discharged. He attended two years of college at Mesa State College in Grand Junction and received an associate’s degree in Welding Engineering.
He met his sweetheart while in college, married after college, and decided to settle in Grand Junction, Colorado. They have been married for 37 years.
After college, he was hired by the Bureau of Land Management and spent five years as a firefighter for the BLM, and fought fires all across the nation. He was then hired as a full-time firefighter by the City of Grand Junction and spent 28 years with the department, working his way through the ranks and retiring as a Battalion Chief with the department. He retired in November 2019.
He has several interests in retirement, including spending time with my family, volunteering with Hope West Hospice, and participating as a member of the Grand Valley Combined Honor Guard at the Veterans’ Cemetery. This is an honor guard that provides military funeral services.
Linda Smith – Vice President / Secretary
Linda was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The majority of her adult life was spent in Minnesota, and has called Colorado home since 1995.
As a graduate of Northern Michigan University, her professional degree was in Business and Property Management. Initially, her career was spent in retail management, later transitioning into marketing and finally commercial property management. Since retiring in 2001, she has been active within the community, serving on the Boards of one of the local Quilt Guilds as well as her HOA.
Linda Taylor – Director
Linda Taylor grew up in the Kansas City area and moved to Colorado just after school. She has lived in Grand Junction and the Orchard Mesa area for over 25 years.
Her background is in rehabilitation counseling. She spent more than 50 years in human services, including serving as director of a Center for Independence covering a 12-county district, where she coordinated services, benefits navigation, and counseling for people with disabilities.
Linda joined the Grand Junction Rural Fire Protection District Board in 2023 after retiring, connecting through a mutual acquaintance who recognized the board needed Orchard Mesa representation. She also serves on the KAFM Community Radio board, which she values for its role in connecting the Grand Valley to local nonprofits and resources.
Outside of community service, Linda enjoys gardening, camping, rafting, skiing, fishing, and all western Colorado has to offer.
Documents
Bylaws and Contracts:
Transparency Notices on File with the Colorado Department of Affairs:
CORA Policy:
GJRFPD Financials, Budget, and Mill Levy
A copy of the 2026 adopted budget is attached here: 2026 Budget Adopted Signed.
The GJRFPD Board has set the mill levy at 9.668 mills for all District property owners for 2026. These adjustments are in keeping with the requirements set forth by both TABOR and state statute, and any voter-authorized waivers. A copy of the 2026 Budget can be viewed by opening the Financials tab on the website.