The County of Stettler reeve confirmed a new regional fire commission is moving ahead despite a statement from the Town of Stettler saying it won’t join.

The Town of Stettler issued a press release July 23 noting it won’t join the new fire commission because having an independent fire department is better for the municipality. “While we acknowledge and appreciate the past collaboration with the county and regional partners, we know a commission model for fire services is not the right path forward for our residents and ratepayers,” the Town of Stettler press release stated.

“A regional model with autonomy has existed in one form or another since 1981 while providing exceptional fire services to our community, and it is the town’s position that we could have continued to do the same.” Readers should note the entire press release is included elsewhere in this edition of the Rural Alberta Report.

County of Stettler Reeve Larry Clarke noted that he’d read the town’s press release and didn’t necessarily agree with everything that’s in it. “We definitely have some differences of opinion with them,” said Clarke in a phone interview July 24, acknowledging that the Town of Stettler has made it clear in the past it’s not interested in a new commission.

Clarke stated the county doesn’t feel a commission threatens autonomy as such a body will be set up to ensure member municipalities have a say in operational matters while big budget considerations such as capital expenditures will go back to the municipal councils for approval. 

Readers should note this is somewhat the method used for regional water commissions such as the Shirley McClellan and Hwy. 12/21 and large regional networks such as the public library system.

Clarke noted that in a commission system every member has a say on how the organization is run.

The reeve stated a commission not only gathers input from members but pointed out the County of Stettler conducted a poll of fire department volunteers and many volunteers felt a commission was the way to go.

The reeve also stated he disagreed with the Town of Stettler that individual fire departments will save money; Clarke stated when the town and county fire department separates, equipment and vehicles will go to the municipality that owns them. Clarke also pointed out the fact that fire departments and emergency equipment in general can have substantial price tags.

The reeve stated he believes operating two fire departments, one Town of Stettler and one County of Stettler, will lead to duplication of services and administration. “We wanted to share equipment to reduce costs,” said the reeve.

County of Stettler councillors recently confirmed the municipality has signed a lease on a building located on the east side of Stettler on Hwy. #12 to be its new fire hall. Clarke noted that the current Stettler fire hall, also referred to as station 1, contains a lot of equipment that belongs to the County of Stettler and which will be moved to the new facility, so the new county fire hall has a solid foundation upon which to build.

A few years ago the Town and County of Stettler came to an agreement on changes to their fire services deal. The new agreement called for separate town and county fire departments with their own fire chiefs which would be overseen by a regional fire manager.

However, recently the County of Stettler announced that revised agreement wasn’t meeting their needs and they were forming a new regional fire commission and invited not only the Town of Stettler to join, but other nearby communities such as the summer villages at Buffalo Lake.

Clarke noted that the commission project is moving ahead despite the town’s decision, and reiterated that moving to a new commission will not have an impact on the fire department services the public relies on.

He also noted the Town of Stettler is welcome to join the new commission anytime if it changes its mind.