At the conclusion of the Orcas Island Fire District (OIFD) meeting on Sept. 9, the commissioners unanimously voted to allow Chief Mike Harris to start the bid process on a new ambulance based on a Road Rescue model. The commissioners also discussed future steps pertaining to the tenant currently residing at the future Deer Harbor Station, approved an interlocal agreement with San Juan County in regards to the same station, formally approved the purchase price of the mini pumpers and clarified next steps on the division chief proposal.

New Ambulance

Harris explained to the commissioners that H & W Emergency Vehicles had contacted him with an opportunity to try out their 2008 ambulance, which is similar to ambulances currently in use by the OIFD. The vehicle was tested by the OIFD medics who approved of its performance and amenities, according to Harris. Harris noted that as a demonstrator model, with a little more than 4,000 miles on the speedometer, it was priced $10,000 less than a completely new ambulance.

“While it is not specifically in the strategic plan, we all know we will need a third ambulance for Station 24 (the Deer Harbor Station). We avoid some of the pollution control issues that the newer models have by purchasing this ambulance … Both our current ambulances are still in good shape. This ramps up our plan a little bit,” Harris said. If interested, he said, the District would need to move forward with a bid, which would take a minimum of 30 days to complete. In response to Commissioner Clyde Duke’s concern about moving too quickly on the purchase, he noted that all bids contain the caveat that commissioners may reject any or all bids.

When asked about the impact on the budget, Captain Rick Anda, Finance Officer and Chairman of the Aparatus Committee, responded, “With the new engines coming in substantially less than we thought several years ago and even with everything else factored in, we will end up this year half a million dollars ahead. We can afford to do this.”

Deer Harbor Station

During the correspondence section of the meeting, Harris reviewed a letter from Karla Reig, the tenant at the proposed Deer Harbor Station, which questioned the OIFD’s timing on asking her to vacate the property.

“I am hoping for some explanation from you as to this action at this time. Everyone with whom I have spoken about this is at a loss to understand why you are doing this at this point, when, to my knowledge, there are several remaining issues yet to be resolved before any construction on a new facility can begin,” the letter read. Reig went on to note that, for personal and work reasons, it was a difficult time for her to move.

Commissioner Jim Coffin said, “I think we need to have communication with her (Reig) about the situation. But if there is no agreement, then we need to initiate eviction proceedings.”

After further discussion on the construction process, an eviction timeline and further communication with the tenant, the commissioners agreed to authorize Harris and Coffin to talk to Reig and potentially extend Reig’s tenancy of the property until Nov. 30 with the stipulation that she agrees to vacate by that date.

In regards to the Deer Harbor Station, Harris stated that, “the final piece to be started in order to submit to the county for permits is the stormwater and site plan. Since the OIFD does not have a Small Works Roster (SWR), it would take the same amount of time to get this done as to go to bid for the project. The county agreed to let us use their roster of small works contractors and that requires an interlocal agreement with them.”

The commissioners unanimously approved the interlocal agreement with San Juan County to use their roster.

In reviewing a meeting with W.S. Darley & Co. about the mini pumpers, Harris said that each of the pumpers would cost $10,000 more than those ordered by Skagit County Fire District No. 5. The price differential was mainly due to the OIFD requesting an increased pump size and digital flow gauges for the Compressed Air Foam (CAF).

“Darley gave us many things in the negotiation. I can conservatively say that we saved $3 for every dollar we spent.

“Darley is giving us the engineering for free. With all Darley gave us, I hope you will agree that I gave them some things as well. I gave them a year to complete the units,” Harris said.

The interlocal agreement with Skagit #5, the primary bidder for the pumpers, and the purchase of the WASP mini pumper contracts in the amount of $189,183 each, not inclusive of taxes, were both unanimously approved.

Division Chief Proposal

In discussion of the division chief proposal, which would split the assistant fire chief duties among the three paramedic union personnel, Harris reported he needed one more session to negotiate the details, as they had so far only dealt with concepts. He asked for a special meeting during which the Orcas Island Fire Commission will meet with the union on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. After that meeting, an update will be given at a closed OIFD personnel All -Hands meeting on Sept. 30.

“The executive sessions have gotten us to a point where we are close, if not completely there, on the financials. I met with the union and we hope to have two draft contracts to you. I estimate we need two hours of executive board work to get the contracts done,” Harris said.

In addressing the public, Duke said, “We are looking at separating out the administrative portion of the job. Even if we have a plan that looks good on paper, we need to make sure it fits Orcas. We are trying to address all the concerns. The biggest concern is money. We are looking at using the 2008 existing budget to make sure the paramedic proposal works. We thank you because you gave us a tool we were able to use to make it work. We are excited about it, but we are not done.”

The next meeting will be the special meeting on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m., during which the commissioners will immediately go into executive session for an estimated two to three hours to negotiate a contact with the union. A Work Session on the 2009 budget is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and a closed to the public, All-Hands meeting, with a focus on the Division Chief Proposal is scheduled for Sept. 30. OIFD All-Hands meetings are closed-to-the-public quarterly meetings of all personnel, including volunteers and paid staff, where updates on a variety of issues, including training and policies, are reviewed.