County ups help to fire departments

Lacombe County has agreed to pick up more of the costs associated with fire departments jointly operated by four municipalities within its boundaries.

In the past, fire department operating costs have been shared equally with urban municipalities, indicated Keith Boras, manager of environmental and protective services, in his report to council.

“While our urban partners want to maintain a high standard of fire protection in their jurisdictions, they are finding it very difficult to maintain this financially,” he wrote. “We have had a request from several partners to review this cost share agreement.”

At their Jan. 26 meeting, county councillors unanimously approved changes to existing agreements to raise Lacombe County’s share of operating costs to 75 per cent from 50 per cent.

The changes apply to agreements with the villages of Alix and Clive and the towns of Bentley and Eckville.

In all but Bentley, the county and the urban municipality jointly own the fire halls. They’re currently working toward a jointly owned hall in Bentley.

The departments also operate a variety of jointly owned equipment from rapid response units to engines, tenders and equipment vans.

Under the changes the county will pay 75 per cent of the costs related to these units if there are insufficient revenues in the “shared fire equipment” account.

Other specifics indicate the county will pay 75 per cent of costs for fire hall telephones and fire department cellphones, the cost of maintaining an accident insurance policy for members of the four departments and operating expenditures for the three jointly owned fire halls. Bentley will be added once a jointly owned fire hall is constructed.

The changes approved are for operating costs only. Boras’ report stated the current formula of a 50-50 split for capital equipment will remain in place.

The county’s 2012 operating budget already included provision for the change, estimated to cost the county $38,860 this year.