Vote no on fire levy | Letter
Published 3:45 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Almost without fail, when any issues concerning our fire department are brought to the attention of the public, it immediately elicits heartfelt comments that are emotionally construed to be the saving of someone’s life. Yes, the EMTs do a fantastic job, but many people are unaware or even seem concerned with the financial aspects of how the fire department works. From what I have heard, Chief O’Brien is an excellent chief and has the support of many citizens. Unfortunately he has been dealt a very poor hand by the Fire Board that has consistently spent on frivolous and unnecessary items and equipment. I was at one meeting when the board authorized the then acting chief to spend $12,000. A person in the audience asked what that was that for. The board members then looked at each other for an explanation, I guess figuring that the other board member knew what it was for. Embarrassed for an explanation the board tabled the request for another meeting to find out just what it was that the chief needed the 12K for. It later turned out to be that the chief wanted his own Orcas fire marshal. I questioned the board for authorizing the chief to spend $3,500 each month to fly up from Las Vegas a former employee to service fire equipment. There was also the matter of a 20×20 memorial garden that cost citizens $20,000.
At that time the Board went on a very aggressive spending spree. One item being $125,000 for a pick up truck to transport the jaws of life from the retired pick-up. I pleaded with the chairman to husband some of the generous levy that they had received for future maintenance and replacement of outdated radios. His response was “the citizens want us to spend every dime of that levy on the finest equipment we can have”.
Emergency EMT service will not be degraded if the Levy lift is not approved. However, it will let the board know that they do not have a blank check to continue to spend the citizens money as they please. Please do not let emotions cloud the need for prudent, financial management of our fire department.
Walter Corbin
Olga
