8 minute read
Andrew News
Village of Andrew wants a say in Emergency Services
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Fire Services was one item up for discussion at the Jan. 10 Village of Andrew council meeting, and something that Mayor Barry Goertz wanted to address directly.
First to speak was Interim Chief Administrative Officer Ken Glover who informed members of council that he had spoken with Lamont County Regional Fire Chief Bo Moore. “I simply, in our conversation that council’s conveyed to me, we understand there is a regional model now and there is a regional fire service agreement which enables that regional fire chief, and essentially Lamont County, to manage that service, and deploy equipment, and people as necessary. But I just stressed with him our necessity as a community, with citizens, to know what might be happening before it happens that could impact our community in general terms.
My understanding, and he was receptive to our comments. He said, you’re right there’s no process in place, but my understanding is there will be a mechanism that is this REAC (Regional Emergency Advisory Committee) meeting on Feb. 1 where we could bring that forward as an action items as a recommendation, and that is one avenue.
The door is not closed. He was certainly receptive to our position. I think there is a sense of communication versus direction. Notification versus decision making, and that clarity will occur over time, but right now it’s just simply respectful notification stressing, especially when there’s deployment and/or major changes that can affect response times to this community,” Glover said.
Mayor Goertz explained that regional emergency services is designed around disasters, and not so much around fire services. He said Bruderheim, Lamont, Chipman, Mundare, and Andrew are part of the regional service, but have “no say whatsoever” in the delivery of fire services.
“So, right now the way the agreement says is they will do it and they’ll tell us when it so fits them. Okay. That part of it has to change. So, one of the things I’d like to bring forward tonight to make sure that Councillor Lupul has something in his back pocket is my belief is that we need a fire services commission. I think we need as a community, we need to have a say not on the delivery, not fighting fires, and so on and so forth; but the system as it stands.
In the two years that we’ve been on council we have not been advised as to the status of our fire service or the status of our fire service in Andrew. That’s a better way of putting this. We don’t know how many calls they have or how many calls they haven’t attended or have attended. We don’t know the severity or the training or anything else of that service. All they’re doing is saying, you have a fire department, be happy; and I don’t think that’s enough.
So, coming forward, and I know that there has been conversation from some of the other communities, but from our side of it, I really would like to see that fire services commission built with the same people as are on the emergency team. We don’t need to create a whole other wheel, but change our hats and talk about the fire services. They know better about equipment and manpower and so on and so forth, but if we’re helping pay for part of the service, we should at least be sitting at the table.”
Councillor Chris Lupul, is a former Fire Chief of the Andrew Fire Department, and shared a few of his thoughts. Lupul said fire chiefs used to sit in during these meetings. . We originally sat at these meetings and negotiated back and forth and then it was taken over by the CAOs. So, now we don’t have a say. You’re absolutely correct. We have to have a say at that table.”
Lupul added, “I’d like to see a local fire department, not necessarily trained up like the county wants us trained. I call it a surround and drown fire department, the guys get to the hall, get in the truck and get to that fire, put the wet stuff on the red stuff and save the family photo albums. You might not save the structure, or enter the building, but you can train to the level of service that the municipality sets. And I worked on this when I was up in Wabasca as their Emergency Services Manager.”
He said that aspect as well as equipment would have to be discussed as well as the idea of a fire services commission.
Councillor Merwin Haight pointed out that during previous mayors and reeves meetings he attended, information on fire calls and motor vehicle collisions were all lumped together. “I have my concerns also about our services here and finding out after the fact instead of being involved. I agree with Councillor Lupul, we need somebody at the table and he has experience with it in the past so that’s the direction we should go.”
According to information supplied by Lamont County, Fire Service Agreements were signed in July 2021 for 10 years. REAC previously met annually and plans are to meet two times a year going forward.
REAC:
· Meets a minimum once annually, or as any emergent or immediate need arises.
· Develops and approves policies concerning emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and the operation and administration of the Regional Emergency Management Partnership and the Regional Emergency Management Agency.
· Approves the Regional Emergency Management plan.
· Declares, renews and/or terminates a State of Local Emergency.
· Appoints the Regional Director of Emergency Management and Regional Deputy Director of Emergency Management by resolution of the committee.
· Provides guidance and direction to the Regional Emergency Management Agency.
· Reviews the Regional Emergency Management Plan and related plans and programs at a minimum of an annual basis.
· Advises all Councils, duly assembled, on the status of the Regional Emergency Plan and related plans and programs at least once annually.
Moving the Needle Forward
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Village of Andrew Mayor Barry Goertz is glad 2023 is finally behind them and is looking forward to 2024.
In his report to council at the Jan. 10 regular meeting, Goertz said, “I look forward to our new year, to the changes that are needed, to the growth and development of our Village as we move the needle forward.”
While the contents of the Municipal Inspection by Municipal Affairs have yet to be made public, one of the recommendation will soon be implemented as the Village of Andrew will be hosting a Muni 101 Course for members of council who decided that a one day in-person format would be preferable. It is expected to take place in late February.
Referencing the Municipal Inspection, Goertz stated, “This project was initiated by us to ensure that we were doing the right things, but also to identify the practices that were not being implemented correctly. It is the direction of this council to follow the recommendations and directives of the Minister and we will become more efficient and politically correct with everything we do.”
Goertz also pointed out the new staff additions of Finance Clerk Colette Ducharme and Public Works Foreman Matt Fitzgerald have made the Village “much stronger” in a “very short period of time.” He thanked Ken Glover of HumanEdge Consulting for his guidance and for Sharman Donald for stepping up and taking on the role of Interim CAO and doing “everything possible” to keep the Village of Andrew up and running during her tenure.
He noted, “Our two new Councillors, Mr. Chris Lupul and Mr. John Van Vyfeyken, it is with pleasure that we have a full council and voices that are not afraid to be heard; you as well will make us so much stronger. Welcome.
Lastly, the addition of Ms. Kylie Rude, as our new CAO. We all know you, have watched you mature and develop over the past years and now your resume and your interviews have just confirmed that you are and will be the strongest manager this Village could possibly have secured. We look forward to working with you, and to see where this Village can be over the next few years.”
He went on to say, “Lastly, we have JMD professionals taking on the daunting task of completing our financial audits and the expectations are that this will be done by the end of January. Along with this completion and the training of our staff with the existing software we will not be in this predicament ever again.”
