Stettler’s town council gave the final approval to join the Stettler Regional Management Partnership during the April 4 meeting.
According to chief administrative officer Greg Switenky, little will actually change for the community. The transition to a regional partnership is more of a “housekeeping item” to provide some relief to the town’s director of emergency management (DEM), Clint Sime.
Sime is the manager of the County of Stettler peace officers. Through agreements with the County of Stettler, the Town of Stettler and all the villages in the county have appointed Sime as their DEM; however, under the legislation, Sime was required to hold separate meetings with each community council and administration at least once per year.
By forming the Regional Emergency Management Partnership, and each municipality signing on, Sime will only be required to hold one meeting with the joint board and administration instead of one for each community.
“We’ve always operated this way,” said Switenky, before noting that along with the new agreement is a new funding formula focused on equity and fairness.
“We see the benefit of having one person lead us.”
While the Emergency Management Act sets out requirements for each community as far as emergency preparedness, including the planning meetings, a ministerial order has been received allowing all the community members to delegate their duties to the new agency.
“It looks very straightforward to me,” said Coun. Gord Lawlor, just prior to motioning acceptance of the new agreement, which was carried.
STARS
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) submitted a letter to the town thanking it for its ongoing support.
In the letter, updated statistics on flights into the region were included.
During 2022, STARS flew 17 missions into Stettler and region.
Missions were flown to Big Valley, Byemoor, Gadsby, Donalda, and near Stettler along with 11 inter-facility transfers from the Stettler hospital.
