To the editor:
On Jan. 3 the Oregon Government Ethics Commission issued a stipulated final order and letter of education to conclude its investigation into my actions as fire chief and administrator of the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District.
The commission found that my use of fire district equipment and personnel to block the road for cattle and to move furniture after flooding was improper.
The commission also found that volunteer award money I received from South Lincoln Ambulance Inc. was a prohibited gift under ethics law because South Lincoln Ambulance has a legislative and administrative interest in my votes and decisions as fire chief.
I did not intend to violate any ethics laws, and frankly, I had no idea that any of these actions were violations. However, I cooperated with the ethics commission throughout the investigation and together we were able to come up with a positive solution.
To resolve the matter I reimbursed South Lincoln Ambulance for the volunteer award money that constituted the prohibited gift and the ethics commission drafted a letter suggesting ways that South Lincoln Ambulance and the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District can continue the volunteer award program while avoiding ethics issues.
Both the commission and I are satisfied with the outcome.
The ethics laws can be tricky and I’m happy to come out of this situation with a better understanding of the limits that apply to public officials. I apologize for these actions and will do my best to avoid issues like these in the future.
— Frankie Petrick, Yachats Rural Fire Protection District
