More than 100 square miles of roads, 1,401 emergency calls last year, 181 calls within 45 minutes of each other and $2.3 million in revenue has the Windsor-Severance Fire Protection District board of directors scratching their heads with wonder on how the department can grow without breaking the bank of its constituents.

To figure that out, the district is turning to those constituents for help.

Three weeks ago, the board of directors sent out letters to more than 100 residents within the district asking them to consider sitting on an advisory board that will look at whether new stations, additional career firefighters and equipment is needed in a town projected to grow by 3 to 5 percent over the next 10 years.

Nearly 30 people responded, and beginning today, they will start deciphering if a bond issue should go to the voters in November.

Fire chief Brian Martens and board president Tom Buxmann presented the preliminary findings to the Windsor Town Board on Monday during a work session, explaining that although they have raw numbers and ideas, they want this plan to be resident initiated.

"Nothing is specific," Martens said about the details of what the district needs. "We want to take a different spin on this (from the failed 2006 bond attempt). We want the citizens to tell us how to do this. We have a good cross section of people who are interested."

A special election in 2006 asked district residents to increase property taxes by more than $1.5 million (3.989 mills) to help build two future fire stations as well as support fire department needs, rescue services, fire prevention and public education services. It was defeated 1,086 votes to 407 amid much controversy that included residents frustrated over a lack of details on where exactly the money would be spent and recently elected fire district board member Del Maxfield calling for the resignation of then fire chief Jerry Ward.

Buxmann, who has been on the fire board for 20 years, said as the president, he takes the blame for the last failure.

"I take responsibility for that," Buxmann said. "But that's the way we'd always asked for it in the past."

Not much has changed about Maxfield's stance since 2006. After the presentation, Maxfield expressed his discontent with this initiative, too.

"I campaigned against it then," he said. "And it's the same problem now as it was then. You are asking people to spend money on non-specific items. It's very difficult for people to put out money for things not itemized. You need to pinpoint where the money is going to go. And there are things we are doing now that is wasting money."

In the presentation, however, Martens highlighted a new substation that could be located at one of two possible sites in west Windsor -- either across the street to the east from Poudre Valley REA, 7649 REA Parkway, or near the intersection of Weld County roads 15 and 30 -- a remodel of the current unmanned substation in Severance, six new career daytime firefighters that would man those two substations, one new daytime firefighter that would act as both a replacement when a firefighter is on vacation and an public educator, a new front line engine for the west substation, replace the front line responding engine, a new heavy rescue squad truck to serve the industrial park areas and a portable burn building.

"We will be very specific and have exact costs if we go to the people in November," Martens told the Town Board. "We have that, but don't want to feed it to the citizens, but instead have them give us their ideas on what we need. We want to let them drive this and bring recommendations to the board."

Martens and Buxmann also stressed the importance of not getting caught up in cost or possible mill levels until the citizen group has brought its recommendations back to the fire board.

"I have several concerns," Buxmann said about asking for a bond issue. "With the economy the way it is -- I understand, I'm on a fixed income -- But I also understand the need. I'm hoping the citizen's group can help us get the message out."