Julie Bertrand / Independent reporter
The village of Botha has finally signed on to the regional fire service agreement.
County of Stettler council approved the agreement during its regular meeting Aug. 10.
“We re-negotiated all of the fire services agreements with all of the villages and summer villages,” said Shawna Benson, director of communications for the county of Stettler. “Botha was the last community to sign on to the regional fire service agreement.”
Botha will pay the regional fire department $300 per unit per hour to be on the scene of a fire in the village.
Moreover, the annual rate to maintain fire department services in the village will be calculated on the cost per parcel, based on the total number of vacant and or occupied parcels.
It will cost $30 per parcel for the first year, $60 for the second year, and $88 for the third and fourth years.
“In the past, the villages had paid not nearly as much,” said Benson.
“Therefore, the town and the county were picking up the tab for providing fire service to the villages and summer villages.”
By charging the villages and summer villages the real cost of maintaining fire service, the county hopes to save in the amount it has to pay per capita to operate the fire department.
The revenue from the rates will be split evenly between the town of Stettler and the county, as they operate the fire department jointly.
Pumper tankers
Council has approved the motion to buy two pumper tankers for the fire stations in Donalda — Red Willow and in Big Valley.
Because the Canadian dollar is so strong against the American dollar, council decided to buy the pumper tanker for Big Valley one year in advance.
“Our capital budget this year allows for one and our budget next year allows for the other,” Benson said.
“But because of the Canadian dollar, and because of the fact that when we order two with the exact same specifications, they can make them at the same time, which will enable us to save just under $10,000.”
Each pumper tanker is valued at $350,863 US.
Rocky Mountain Phoenix Emergency Vehicles are scheduled to deliver them in 2012.