Orland Fire Board Candidates on Solving District’s Challenges

The following question was asked of all the candidates running for the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees in our Patch questionnaire.

Answers are listed in the order they were received.

What are the biggest challenges facing the district? How do you propose to solve them?

John Brudnak

One of the biggest challenges in the OFPD has been the fluctuation of the staffing levels. Our hiring classes have been very large and spread over a long period of time resulting in larger numbers of personnel retiring and hiring at or near the same time. A more consistent process would be to replace an employee as they leave and not have to wait for the next hiring class. As commissioner, I have helped improve the testing process so that it truly measures the qualifications and education of the candidates competing for advancement. As a trustee I would continue to improve the testing processes and will ensure that qualified candidates will be hired in the future.

Larry Moran

The biggest challenge is the District’s lack of reason. Whether ignorance or negligence, there is no reason an Application for Insurance was made available on the District’s website that included an employee’s home address, phone number, social security, and date of birth. I wrestle with the knowledge that the district abated $1.3 million in tax dollars in 2011, only to hit us with a $29 million bond for pension obligations in 2012. Wouldn’t funding the pension with money the District already has seem more appropriate, especially since Moody’s notes that the District has a “strong financial profile supported by ample reserves in General Fund and Ambulance Fund”?  

I’m tired of the allegations of transparency and fiscal responsibility since those cries lack the substance needed to make them believable. Isn’t it the oddest of things that the Board was unable to find a suitable fire chief from within the department, and from a pool established and highly credentialed candidates selected an applicant that does not even meet the minimum criteria to test for the rank of battalion chief?  My proposition in solving this issue is to hold people accountable for their roles and responsibilities, to cause debate and validation of Board actions, to move the spotlight from fiscal health to the fleecing of our tax dollars, and to ensure that the Board actions are justifiable and for the right reasons.

Jayne Schirmacher

To me the biggest challenges of the fire district are accountability with respect to the taxpayer, spending, communication with the public and having a good strategic plan in place for years to come. More information needs to be shared with the public to better understand not only the operations, but what diverse resources it takes to keep the public safe. I feel this can be accomplished with continued public education and improving the OFPD website with connection to social media.

Glenn Michalek

Some stations are beginning to show their age and repairs will be needed, along with the increasing call volumes that we have been experiencing every year, which in turn taxes the equipment.  Healthcare for employees is another issue.  As in the past we have shopped around for different healthcare providers to get the district the best price on healthcare.  Along with every department in the district where we can cut back but still maintain superior service throughout the district.

Martin McGill

Maintaining services while tapping into the resources on hand to keep service at the high level it is at, all without raising taxes. We can do that by looking into offering our maintenance and training facilities to other districts and departments.

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