Tom Freel posted on February 23, 2012 11:30
(UPDATE) After this story was reported on KAST the Astoria City Council decided to write a letter in support of the Maritime Security Committee grant process today and Mayor van Dusen says they made the deadline for application. The mayor says that after quick investigation it was found the the information required to make the decision was in staff hands. After a review the decision was made to follow though. The mayor hand delivered the letter to KAST news saying this means a new fire boat will soon be under construction an then on it's way to Astoria.
(original story follows)
on December 17th of 2010 Astoria Fire Chief Leonard Hanson was surveying the scene of a devastating fire that destroyed two historic waterfront buildings on the sixth street pier and told KAST news that things might have been different if he had access to a fire boat. He said that ground based crews had used up so much water at that point that the system couldn't keep up with the demand.
That began a two year process to get a fire boat back in Astoria. Yesterday it was revealed that city has effectively backed off on a plan that would have seen a grant come in time to acquire a boat from the city of Portland. The grant, according to Port Executive Director Jack Crider would not have required a match.
The Port Commissioners expressed surprise over the move and, in questioning Crider, asked what had happened. Crider said the matter never came to the Astoria City Council. He speculated that with Chief Hanson's retirement any leadership on the issue within the city faded away. Crider stated that with The Police Chief also acting as the Fire Chief he thinks priorities changed.
City Manager Paul Benoit and Mayor Willis Van Dusen tell a different story. Benoit said he was told the city would have to sign on to the grant with just 48 hours notice to make the granting cycle deadline and Mayor Van Dusen said there wasn't enough data available to hold a special city council meeting in time to meet that two day deadline. Benoit told KAST news that there is no agreement between the Port Of Astoria and the City, nor is there any data to put in front of the Council to have a discussion that would lead to a good decision. The Mayor said he would not sign an agreement to buy a fire boat without the participation of the full council. He said he had no choice but to say no to signing onto the grant papers. He says at this point the Council has made no decision regarding a fire boat.