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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2018
Drone: Fire Chief Benedict plans to take drone certification test
Continued from Page 1A
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Fire Chief Matt Benedict demonstrates how the controls work on the department’s new drone.
December. Between the media
attention and an anonymous
$700 donation from a Can-
non Beach local to buy a drone
after the rescue, instituting a
program became a higher pri-
ority, Benedict said.
“The rescue of the dog on
the cliff made the ball roll
much faster than I ever could
have imagined,” Benedict
said. “The drone gave us a
chance to get eyeballs on the
issue and let the search-and-
rescue crew get right to it.”
The idea of managing a
drone program was met with
mixed reaction at January’s
fire district board meeting.
“I was lukewarm on the
idea of a drone until I saw how
well it worked at the rescue at
Tillamook Head,” said Mark
Mekenas, a fire district board
member. “The PR and the
results we got out of the dog
rescue was worth the $1,000
investment. Even if we just
used it twice a year it would
be worth it.”
But board member Bob
Cerelli didn’t approve of how
quickly the district was adopt-
ing the new program and the
costs. He questioned whether
a drone is a reliable enough
tool.
“I think it’s a waste of
money and a waste of time.
We have the best eyes in the
sky with the Coast Guard,”
Cerelli said. “I’ve flown them,
and I just don’t think it’s a
proper tool. I know what’s
involved.”
Benedict said using a drone
is no substitute for the Coast
Guard.
“This program won’t inter-
fere with other programs,”
Benedict said. “If we can
make the Coast Guard aware
of the conditions of a rescue
before they arrive, then they
can be more prepared.”
He also said new models,
like the one the district owns,
have many built-in safeguards
to reduce the risk of accidents.
“I think right now it’s really
new. And we are starting very
cautiously,” Benedict said.
“But I think after we have
training and procedure, in a
year we’ll be very proficient
and this will be standard.”
Fire board members will
hold a work session Feb. 20
to discuss in depth with Ben-
edict about policy that would
dictate who would be allowed
to operate the drone, as well as
define what types of situations
it could be deployed.
Benedict plans to take a
drone certification test within
the next couple of months.
“This is the way of the
future,” he said. “We need to
get trained up and get on board
as these programs become
more standard.”
Tax: ‘All the other districts
I talk to face the same issues’
Continued from Page 1A
Modifying the levy also
helps pave the way to propose
an increase in the future, Ben-
edict said, after the fire district
has more time to educate the
community about the reasons
for a higher property tax bill.
It will also allow the dis-
trict to consolidate the budget-
ing process and open up funds
for more general maintenance
and supplies, Benedict said.
The vote was unanimous,
but some board members had
concerns that changing the
name without changing the
rate could cause confusion
among voters.
“I’m concerned about
changing the wording. With
all these bond issues out, I
don’t want people to get con-
fused. The most important
thing is to continue with pay-
ing for a fire chief with this
levy,” board member Garry
Smith said.
If residents do not vote to
renew the levy, the fire chief
would be paid out of reserves
for a year before the board
either proposed another ballot
measure to fund his position
or found alternate funding.
Overall, Benedict said con-
sidering rate increases for the
levy is just putting a bandage
on a larger, long-term funding
issue with the fire district.
Benedict is suggesting the
board consolidate with other
nearby fire districts to be
more cost-efficient. If done
correctly, he argues, reform-
ing the district will make
the department less reliant
on bonds and levies. Can-
non Beach has already started
working with nearby Hamlet
Fire District by doing com-
bined training.
“There’s more efficiency.
Better emergency response,
better training, more efficient
operations,” Benedict said.
“It’s a better bang for your
buck. When you join together,
it will decrease response
times and consolidate train-
ing. Instead of paying for two
fire chiefs, you have one. You
don’t need two fire marshals.”
But reforming a fire district
is a lengthy and complicated
process that would not come
to fruition until the distant
future, Benedict said. Until
then, board members plan to
hold a work session on Feb.
20 to discuss other long-term
funding options to address
issues like volunteer fire-
fighter shortages and limited
funds for aging equipment.
“All of the other districts
I talk to face the same issues.
They need money, and people
don’t want to pay more taxes,”
said board member Mark
Mekenas. “We need to sit
down and talk about what we
need to do in the long run, oth-
erwise, what kind of future do
we have here? Small increases
can help with some additional
funds, but down the road? My
God, we really have got to do
something.”
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Checking equipment to ensure it is in working order is a daily task at the Cannon Beach
fire department.
F EBRUARY 20
Clatsop County
District Attorney
Josh Marquis
A Columbia Forum Presentation
Josh Marquis is about to start his 25th year as Clatsop
County’s District Attorney. First appointed by Gov. Barbara
Roberts in 1994 after the recall and criminal conviction of
his predecessor.
A graduate of the Honors College and Law School of the
University of Oregon, he has spent most of his 37 years as a
lawyer as a prosecutor, fi rst in Eugene, then Newport, and as
Chief Deputy DA in Bend before coming to Astoria. He also
spent time as a newspaper reporter and speechwriter in
Los Angeles and two years as a criminal defense lawyer. He
lectures and teaches to lawyers and others across the nation and overseas and has been
asked to testify four times before Congress. Marquis served as President of the Oregon
District Attorneys Association and Vice President of the National DA’s Association,
on whose board he still serves 21 years later. He is married to City Councilor Cindy
Price. For more than 20 years he’s been a jazz programmer at KMUN and appeared in
SHANGHAIED IN ASTORIA every year since 1994.
TO ATTEND:
Assistance League is a non-profit, all volunteer organization whose phil anthropic programs
promote the well-being and self-esteem of children and teens throughout Clatsop County.
Their celebrated Accessorize Sale is on hiatus until 2019 but Assistance League will be hosting
a pop-up shop at Vintage Hardware for the month of February. The fun shop will feature
luxury accessories for the self and home and all proceeds go directly to their programs
that clothe and support children in need in our community.
LIMI
SEA TED
TING
RESE
For Members: Dinner & Lecture: $25 each; Lecture only: no charge
SPAC R E VE YOUR
TODA
Y!
For Non-Members: Dinner & Lecture: $35 each; Lecture only: $15 ea.
Appetizers will be available at 6 p.m. • Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.
The speaker will begin after the dinner service is complete and non-dinner
members and guests of the audience take their seats.
Forum to be held at the CMH Community Center at 2021 Exchange St., Astoria.
ColumbiaForum
FOR RESERVATIONS OR TO JOIN COLUMBIA FORUM CONTACT:
Holly Larkins at 503.325.3211 ext. 227 or hlarkins@dailyastorian.com by Feb. 18, 2018
Columbia Forum is sponsored by:
The Daily Astorian • Craft3 • OSU Seafood Laboratory • KMUN-FM
Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa
For more information contact
ASSISTANCELEAGUECP.ORG
or CALL 503.738.0313
Pop Up Shop will have bins for community
members to drop off new Children Books for
ALCP Duffel Bag Program for Foster Children