Title
Yellowhead County Fire Services Agreement
Proposed Motion
That Council direct Administration to begin discussions with Yellowhead County on defining a service level and operating model for fire services in the Entwistle/Evansburg area.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration is in support of the proposed motion.
Purpose
The current fire services agreement with Yellowhead County is 15 years old and requires updating. Yellowhead County has notified Parkland County of their intent to terminate the current agreement giving Parkland County one (1) years notice as per clause 21 of the Agreement.
Summary
In February of 2015 Parkland County received a request from Yellowhead County for the funding of a new fire truck and the building a of a new fire station in Evansburg. Parkland County agreed to fund 50% of the new fire truck in the 2016. The request for the funding of a new fire station in Evansburg was not addressed pending the completion of our Fire Services Master Plan. The Fire Services Master Plan is in the final stages of being completed and we now have the information to move forward with planning the service level and operating model for fire services in the future.
In the letter received from Yellowhead County there is a statement that the Agreement does not "in any real terms cover the the actual service being provided". Although Administration have had preliminary discussions with Yellowhead County on the framework of a new agreement, there has been no discussions regarding the construction of new fire station, changing the staffing model or the funding of these initiatives in the Evansburg Station.
Yellowhead County has indicated that they would like to have the matter concluded by the end of April. This target date is ambitious and will require the discussions to be a priority for both parties. Administration is asking Council for the direction to begin discussions with Yellowhead County on defining both a service level an...
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