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City accepts firefighter Mike Markiten's retirement; approves reserve firefighter position
Summary
The Montrose City Council accepted the retirement of firefighter Mike Markiten, who served about 40 years, and approved a new reserve firefighter policy to add ancillary responders who would not be eligible for PERA; a separate pension increase request failed for lack of a motion.
The Montrose City Council on the evening accepted the retirement of firefighter Mike Markiten, effective Sept. 13, 2024, and approved a new reserve firefighter position intended to attract part‑time or specialized responders.
The fire department representative told the council Mike Markiten “joined us in August 1984” and “served for 40 years,” and asked the council to accept his retirement. The acceptance motion was approved by council vote (motion recorded as passing 4‑0‑1). The council also voted to create Policy 102F, a reserve firefighter classification that would allow trained personnel to respond to calls and perform support tasks but would not make them eligible for PERA as currently written.
Council members questioned training and availability expectations for reserve firefighters. Staff said the new positions would be tailored to individual availability and training—some reserves could focus on medical calls while others on equipment support—and the policy aims to bring more helpers without expanding full‑time staffing commitments.
Separately, the city's relief association requested raising the pension multiplier from $5,000 to $5,500 per year of service. Staff reported the relief fund was about 115% funded (July 2023) and estimated the increase would reduce the funded ratio to roughly 106%. Council members warned that falling market returns could produce a sizeable future invoice from PERA; after repeated calls for a motion the item failed for lack of a motion.
What happens next: the council approved the reserve firefighter policy and accepted Mike Markiten’s retirement. The pension increase will not move forward without a motion; staff and council discussed monitoring fund performance before reconsidering changes.
