Considering STARS support

Times Contributor    

 

The 2013 STARS request for funding was discussed at the Feb. 5 council meeting. Last year the council voted on a $1 per capita payment to the society, half the amount suggested by STARS, to support the care awarded Wheatland citizens. 

“I received a few calls on STARS last year. They said they didn’t need the county making a donation. If they wanted they could make their own private donation,” said Reeve Glenn Koester.

“It is taxpayer money for all that, but they would not quibble over the $8,000 if they had an accident and they needed the service, and had to pay for it out of their pocket,” said Councillor Alice Booth.

“There are pros and cons. It is a decent service and if you ever use them, it is worth it, said Councillor Ben Armstrong.

Councillor Booth commented that STARS supplements the local ambulance service. When the WADEMSA ambulances don’t have anyone available for standby responses, she said it is reassuring to have the society services available.

Councillor Ken Suave said that taxes are collected to make Wheatland a better community. In this case, it is a service that supports a safer community.

 

Fire commissioner visit

Wheatland fire services were visited by Tom Harkness of the Fire Commissioners Office (FCO) to answer questions and identify concerns. He noted an inconsistency by fire chiefs regarding fire call notification to the FCO. 

Harkness used the example of a delayed or missing call after EMS or STARS participation. He indicated information may be missed since often the site is cleaned up before the insurance investigation can be recorded.

“Sometimes there is a lot going on and chiefs miss reporting,” said Gerald Skibinsky, Manager of Protective Services, Fire, Disaster and Safety.

All fires in the province are required to be reported to the FCO. Statistics are gathered and entered into a Fire Services Information System. The analyzed results are used in fire decision making processes and are a standard practice across Canada. They are used by the individual departments, municipalities, insurance companies, researchers, and the government. They can help support the department with budget requests and refinement to codes and policy. More information can be found at www.ofc.alberta.ca 

Skibinsky indicated to council that the issue was being discussed to develop a system that will address the issue.

 

EMS Support

Skibinsky drew Councillors’ attention to an article published Jan. 16, 2013 in the Edmonton Journal about the Opposition’s response to a Fox Creek man’s trouble getting ambulance service. 

The government is looking at the success of the AHS takeover of ambulance services in the province. They are waiting for Health Quality Council of Alberta report due for release at the end of February.

Skibinsky encouraged Council to support a WADEMSA-run centre for Wheatland County. Reeve Glenn Koester, who also sits in on WADEMSA meetings, said that the county is supportive of keeping the ambulance services and dispatch locally run. Meetings with AHS are still ongoing.

 

2012 in Review

Peace Officer Kevin Taylor updated council on their annual statistics. The office has three officers with one newly hired in May. He said the officers’ goals were to maintain public safety, protect county infrastructure and protect property. 

“It’s been a busy and challenging year,” said Taylor.

The officers are given jurisdiction to perform their duties and lay charges under Provincial Acts appointed to the officers by the Solicitor General. 

There was a total of 2,916 vehicle overload tickets, 321 case reports, 427 moving violation tickets, 37 traffic warnings and 11 exempt applications. 

The officers had four unsightly calls and seven long grass calls with no offence notices issued.

“We had good compliance from all the people we contacted,” said Taylor.

In animal control, the officers rounded up 98 animals with 30 transferred to the Calgary Humane Society. There were only three animal offences. The department saved $2,663 by changing to the new animal delivery system last year, a savings they would not have had if they had continued to use the Strathmore kennels.

Peace Officer Ben Mendoza outlined the County health and safety statistics. In 2012, there were 24 accidents, 14 injuries of which were minor, 10 property damage, nine vehicle related and one other.

Safety courses were ongoing for staff. All the internal audits led to average scores of 89 percent.  He said training sessions for chain saws were completed, with sessions for safety on overhead crane scheduled, with balloon truck and other truck safety courses in the works. First aid recertifications will be done in April and May.