M.D./Vauxhall reviewing fire authority agreement

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

The Town of Vauxhall has reached out to the Municipal District of Taber in hopes of reviewing and negotiating the Vauxhall Regional Fire Authority agreement. 

The Town sent correspondence to the M.D. indicating their desire to review and negotiate the existing agreement as well as the lease agreement for their fire hall. The request was brought forward to the M.D.’s regular meeting held on May 9 where administration also explained to council this request would kickstart the process before the agreements came due.

“One is the actual agreement establishing the authority and then the other agreement is their facility lease agreement. I believe some of the context around the first agreement, the regional fire agreement, is just bringing it more up to date, and because it comes up for renewal in 2023,” explained CAO Arlos Crofts. “They’re wanting to start that process is my understanding. In the facility lease agreement, they had some questions and concerns around some of the responsibilities with regard to landlord and tenant with regard to maintenance and repair items. So they are wanting to clarify some of those things through this process.” 

Administration also highlighted in their report they expect a Regional Fire Master Plan presentation in June which could help bring more feedback. 

“I think the Regional Fire Authority has discussed this initially or has had some very preliminary discussion on it. I would say as far as actual negotiating, administrations could get together in an effort to understand the base concerns and issues. We can bring them back to council and I think it would be a perfect fit for the respective Intermunicipal Development Committee to have any further negotiation if needed,” added Crofts. 

Council also asked about ambulances, which use the facility and if they contribute to the leases. Administration explained they were not a part of those agreements.

“That’s an agreement between the Town of Vauxhall and AHS,” stated Crofts.

With the fire authority agreement ending next summer, council was curious how often these types of agreements are reviewed. Administration explained the agreements had a set number of years before they would need to be reviewed, and in this case, they are starting a little early.

To read the full story, pick up a Vauxhall Advance issue or subscribe to an ePaper digital subscription! You can sign up for digital or traditional subscriptions on vauxhalladvance.com by clicking subscribe under ePaper on the home page.

Get More Vauxhall Advance →