At the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, Fire Chief Mike Harris reminded the commissioners and attendees that in 1999 voters passed a levy.

It took effect in 2000 and will continue until 2014. The levy provides money to update facilities and equipment. The current Eastsound Fire Station was built with that money and the same levy will help fund the new Deer Harbor Fire Station 24.

“This project will use public funds from the levy and is required to use a bid process for the construction,” said Architect William Trogdon of Orcas.

The timing for the bid depends on the permit process and the outcome of a public hearing. The public hearing will be January 7, 2009 as part of the San Juan County Council Meeting. The council will listen to public input on the Conditional Use Permit for Station 24. William Trogden has been the architect working with the fire department on developing the design and there is a model available for viewing at the Eastsound Fire Station.

Trogden recommended his son’s firm in Seattle to complete Phase II of the design process, adding that he was already familiar with the design and was exceptionally qualified. The commissioners passed a motion to accept the contract with Ben Trogden Architects to complete the second phase of the building design.

Howard Barbour, a Deer Harbor resident, told the commissioners that in February of 2010 the Deer Harbor Post Office will have to relocate. The current location of the Deer Harbor Post Office is part of the Trend West property and serves 300 customers. The lease was up in 2009 but has been extended for one additional year.

Barbour brought this to the attention of the Board of Fire Commissioners and asked that they consider housing the new post office in the Deer Harbor Fire Hall. The commissioners said they would consider the possibility, citing that revenue, beyond tax dollars, would be an advantage, but they did not want to compromise the project or future operations with a combined facility.

Paramedics Dave Zoeller and Tom Ardavany declined the department’s offer of full-time employment, but will stay in their current part-time capacity. The salary of a full-time paramedic is not enough for them to live on Orcas Island.

The Washington State Department of Health has mandated a new certification for EMTs and paramedics. The current system is to have Dr. Sullivan, a contract physician from Anacortes, come to Orcas and perform testing on all Orcas candidates. The new system will use a privatized off-island testing site. Chief Harris is concerned that the off-island testing will cost more in actual dollars as well as time. These changes and a new fee change will be imposed in March, leaving little time for budgeting and planning.