Oregon: Fire aide's duties to be updated

10/5/2005

To prepare for an upcoming vacancy in the fire department, Oregon City Council last week approved a proposal to update the assistant fire chief's duties and responsibilities.

Assistant Fire Chief Bill Flanagan plans to retire at the beginning of 2006 after 20 years in his position.

It was necessary to update the position because more responsibilities have been added to it over the years, fire Chief Ray Walendzak said.

Applicants will have to be a full-time firefighter with verifiable training in arson and fire investigation. In addition, council changed the minimum employment requirements from five years' experience to 10.

Officials began taking applications for the job last week.

In other action, council voted unanimously to allow U.S. Utility Contractor Co. of Perrysburg to replace the electrical system that provides power for the lights near homes on Wheeling Street and on neighboring side streets north of Navarre Avenue and south of Starr Avenue.

Public Service Director Paul Roman said the firm submitted the lowest base bid of $158,003 with an alternate bid of $115,903 to provide decorative lights on Wheeling because it's a well-traveled street and part of a historic area.

Work on the lighting project is expected to start early this month and last until the end of the year.

The mayor also appointed three citizens to an assessment equalization board to hear objections regarding individual assessments on the lighting system and the South Coy Road sanitary-sewer project.

Six people submitted written objections by the Sept. 23 deadline, said Kathy Hufford, who works in Oregon's finance department.

The board plans to meet at 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the municipal building to hear the written objections that were submitted and to make a ruling on whether the assessment should be changed.

They will then make their recommendations to council.