Candidates for the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue commission and the Orcas Island Recreation District commission shared their views last week at a League of Women Voters forum.
Orcas Island Fire and Rescue
Wesley Heinmiller is running against Julie Ann Remington, a long-time fire department volunteer who remembers being one of the department’s first two female volunteers. Heinmiller has past experience as commodore of the Orcas Island Yacht Club, chair of the Deer Harbor Plan Review Committee, member of the San Juan County Marine Resource Committee and president of the Driftwood Condominium Association.
Heinmiller emphasized a desire for the fire commissioners to meet bi-monthly with the fire chief to maintain good communication and support. He said he foresees the biggest challenge facing the department to be the cost recovery program.
Remington said communications has been the department’s biggest challenge for the past ten-plus years, citing existing “hit-and-miss radio” communications as inferior to broadband. She believes longtime experience to be the most important trait in a potential commissioner; while Heinmiller spoke of the ability to read budgets and maintain open lines of communication with the constituency.
Queried about making the role transition from volunteer to a more managerial role as commissioner, Remington spoke of her past work in facilitating a meeting to help fire department volunteers voice concerns during a period of turmoil with an outgoing chief.
“I’ve been on a lot of calls,” she said, “ and people [in the department] trust me with their lives.” Heinmiller in turn emphasized his experience with fiscal responsibility and his ability to handle budgets.
As for their top priorities for the fire department, both emphasized maintaining and continuing to improve the current high level of service. Heinmiller cited a rising call volume as a challenge to overcome, saying the department has received over 900 calls to date in 2015, a number not reached last year until the end of December. While both candidates noted that the chief is hired by and accountable to the commissioners, Remington was careful to emphasize that the commission “does not interfere with fire operations and programs.” She closed by expressing confidence in the competence of the fire department as a whole, saying, “The level of service will not falter, no matter who is on the commission.”
The winning candidate will replace retiring commissioner Clyde Duke. Wes Heinmiller’s campaign website is www.sayyesforwes.com.
Orcas Island Recreation District
Candidates Theresa Haynie and local small business owner Deborah Jones both spoke of financial difficulties faced by the Orcas Island Recreation District.
Jones is the owner of DH Jones Design, and co-operates Bluebird Builders LLC with her husband Prescott. The mom of two boys aged seven and 11, Jones has coached youth soccer since 2010 and volunteers at Orcas Island Elementary School. She has over 10 years of experience as a board member, including serving on the Rico, Colorado town council and the Rico Center community foundation, and more recently the Suncrest Homeowners’ Association.
Haynie, who began working as a communications director for OPALCO this spring, says she has a “life-long passion for recreational sports,” and currently has a soft spot for pickleball.
“Recreational facilities are critical to mental and physical health, and to the health of communities,” Haynie said. Her experience includes serving on the board of directors for a community newspaper, as well as project management.
Jones said the district has “major infrastructure problems”, and that existing rec programs could run more smoothly if provided with full financial support. Haynie mentioned the heavy use seen by the district’s Buck Park sports fields and the need to improve existing facilities (including the pickleball court). She said she would use effective communication strategies to invite all islanders to get engaged, and to establish “beneficial partnerships” to benefit the district.
Jones cited the need for a concerted outreach campaign aimed not just at families, but at reaching the entire community.
“We need to make sure the community knows what’s at stake if we don’t fully fund the district,” she said. Jones also said she’d like to continue working toward optimal communication with the school district on shared resources.
When asked about the potential for an olympic-sized swimming pool, both candidates noted that a pool would require a significant investment in terms of land, financing, and a budget for ongoing maintenance. Jones said the district doesn’t currently have enough property to provide all the services community members have requested.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” said Haynie, saying Lopez islanders have been fundraising for a pool for the past five years. “It’s a dream.”
In closing, Jones noted the district’s importance to the Orcas Island community, including the way district sports programming serves as a feeder for high school sports.
“It brings families together,” she said, adding that she hopes to leverage her extensive relationships in the community to help establish effective communication and to meet the needs of the district. Jones noted her years of board experience, and said, “I am familiar with budgets. I know how to get things done, and how to communicate with board members.” Haynie cited as key her ability to give support and guidance to a “razor-thin staff.” The winning candidate will replace retiring commissioner Ian Lister.
