Fire Chief Mike Harris says increased cell coverage on Orcas would be “a real win for the community.”
At the Jan. 12 fire commissioners meeting, Harris responded to community members concerned about possible changes to the current San Juan County cell phone regulations.
“We’ll save tax dollars we otherwise would have to spend on new radio equipment, because cell networks now carry radio signals,” Harris said. “We’ll provide improved coverage for emergency services, and that coverage will be available for the public too.”
He said that he, too, is concerned about property rights, but said that large cell towers are a thing of the past and no longer necessary to improve coverage. He cited a recent experimental study conducted by the Orcas Island Sheriff’s department, in which they obtained 100 percent cell coverage of Orcas Island using only repeating transmitters.
Commissioner Jim Coffin added, “I believe cell phone communication has and will save lives.”
During the meeting, two surplus vehicles were auctioned off by written bid, at prices higher than Chief Harris had expected.
Bob Nutt purchased the 1970 F350 for $2600 and Victor Bode won the 1982 C3500 for $600. Harris plans to sell a third vehicle, a 1980 fire pumper, to another fire department in the region. The vehicles were dropped from the fleet because the Orcas Fire District doesn’t receive any credit for them with the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau, as they are over 20 years old.
Duke and Coffin gave a status update on the new Deer Harbor station #24.
“Despite the hiccups, we are still under budget and fairly on schedule,” Coffin said. Duke expressed hopes that the station will be up and running by the end of 2010.
For now, Cory Cookston has offered to rent one of his Deer Harbor buildings at $500 per month to temporarily house a fire tender vehicle.
The commissioners approved a motion to form three new committees: a Finance Committee to determine whether a new levy is needed after the old one expires in 2014, a Communication Committee dedicated to improving communication within the department, and a Policy, Procedure and Operations committee to address areas that could use improvement. The three commissioners will each head a committee, made up of department volunteers and members of the community.
Chief Harris received a positive review of his performance and a motion was carried to extend his contract until Dec. 31, 2010, with a review scheduled for Oct. 15, 2010.
Harris expressed the desire to help with the search for a new chief when the time comes. “I want to make sure the person who takes over has the right heart and will keep us moving in the same direction,” he said. “I will not leave you in the lurch. We will not have a transition like we did last time; that was not fair to anyone.”
