Orcas fire commissioners say representatives from San Juan County, Orcas, Lopez, Shaw, and San Juan islands, are in one accord regarding the proposed new interlocal agreement for the county fire marshal position. The parties voted in favor of the agreement at a June 17 inter-district fire commissioners meeting to discuss the current situation.

“We are getting to a truly functional system,” said Commissioner Jim Coffin.

Fire chief Mike Harris said it appears the district’s fire marshal budget will be in the black by the end of the year, just 10 months since deputy fire marshal Paul Turner took over the work of previous fire marshal Bob Low. At Low’s $85,000 annual salary, the county fire marshal position ran over budget by roughly $30,000 each year since Low was appointed in 2005. Turner, as a deputy fire marshal, receives an annual salary closer to $32,000. Harris said the county is currently not promising any support for the fire marshal position, due to budget shortfalls.

Turner has been conducting building inspections on Orcas, Lopez, Shaw and San Juan, and the three district fire chiefs, Steve Marler, Jim Ghiglione and Harris have been responsible for fire cause determinations, which are outside Turner’s expertise. The districts gave tentative approval to proceed under the new arrangement in February, and over the past few months have been assessing its practical functionality and financial impact.

Orcas commissioners expect to present a draft copy of the new interlocal agreement at the next regular meeting on August 10.