Safe and adequate access required for fire protection

4 April 2014

Coast Radio News
Local News

Safe and Adequate Access Required for Fire Protection

Firefighters west of Medford could only stand and watch this week as flames completely destroyed a home in the community of Applegate.  Nobody was injured when one tire of a fire engine broke through the wood decking of a private bridge, stranding it and preventing any other access to the remote property.

A similar situation could happen in just about any other fire district, including ours according to Siuslaw Valley Fire Chief Jim Langborg who says there are a lot of small, private bridges.

Jim Langborg – “We see them all the time and in fact we had a brush fire a few weeks ago and we made the determination we would not send any heavy apparatus across it.  It was a little sketchy sending the SUVs over it.”

In another recent incident, Langborg said an engine was scratched up and nearly became stuck backing out of a narrow, overgrown private road.  Neither incident contributed to property damage, but they could have.

Langborg said landowners are responsible for maintaining adequate and safe access to remote homes.

New Home for Public Works

Florence City Councilors will continue the discussion of a possible new home for the Public Works Headquarters Monday night when they consider approval of a proposed new location.  The council will decide which of two parcels of land in the Kingwood Business Park they prefer.  They will also consider how best to finance construction.

The current Public Works Headquarters is located on Spruce Street, a half block north of Highway 126.  Offices are in the former police station and jail that was converted 15 years ago.

Public Works Director Mike Miller previously said a new location would not only provide more efficient office space, but would provide more covered and secure storage of equipment.

Miller also said the existing headquarters would likely be incorporated into the adjacent Gallagher’s Park.

Principal Search Underway

The search for a new high school principal got underway this week following the news that Matt Henry would be leaving at the end of the school year.

Siuslaw Superintendent Shawn Wiencek said the job was posted this week.  Wiencek said applications will be taken for the next three weeks.  Then they’ll be screened and the top candidates will be interviewed with a possible selection coming this spring.

The new principal may not necessarily come from outside the district.  Wiencek said there are many current Siuslaw employees with administrative credentials and she would like to consider them in the mix.

Ground Fishing Buyout Changes Urged

A federally mandated buyout of excess commercial fishing vessels going after bottom fish on the west coast has not gone as intended.  That’s according to U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio who is pushing for new legislation that would lower the interest rates and change the repayment schedule.

In 2003 the size of the fleet was reduced with remaining fishers picking up the tab and paying back the government for the buyout.  But, it took 18 months for regulators to get around to making a repayment schedule… while interest was accumulating on the debt; interest that was considerably higher than current rates.

DeFazio says that put the government in the position of acting like a “payday lender” for current permit holders.  He’s advocating a reduction in interest and a cap on the amount owed.  DeFazio’s bill has bipartisan support… it was co-sponsored by a Washington State Republican and a Democrat from California.