Carseland Fire Association waiting on County’s decision

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The Carseland Fire Fighter Association (C.F.F.A) is looking to Wheatland County to cover the costs for their new fire hall, after a 40/60 split has the association scrambling to raise nearly half a million dollars.
Wheatland County currently operates the Strathmore and Carseland fire halls, after the Strathmore Rural Fire Association disbanded last year. As part of the recommendations laid out in the Fire Service Review, that was conducted as a result Wheatland County taking over the fire service, the Carseland fire hall was deemed in need of upgrades and expansion. As the building is quite old, the county is considering building a new facility. However, with an estimated cost of over $1 million, C.F.F.A is concerned about being able to raise $480,000, and approached Wheatland County about absorbing all costs on June 16.
“We’re the main funder of it,” said Alan Parkin, CAO of Wheatland County. “Currently the funding model is 40 per cent from the community and 60 per cent from the county. Other municipalities have paid more for a fire hall.”
Yet, the association argued their organization wasn’t created to tackle such ambitious projects, instead focus on equipment and firefighter needs.
“It was originally set up just as a fundraising body to help out the firemen because it used to be looked after by the Strathmore Rural Firefighters Association,” said Adrian Knaus, president of the C.F.F.A.
“They had an association both for the funding and one for the day-to-day operations. This board originally was not set up to do that, to go out and raise that kind of funds for the hall.”
The County is looking at breaking ground in 2016 but with the slower process of fundraising, the process could take a little longer.
He added that they will stay in limbo until there is a decision made from the County.
Carseland area resident, Susan Page, believes that any emergency service is esssential and the county should implement a tax levy on the community to pay for the fire hall.
“To me it’s silly that they want people to fundraise, it should be a tax,” said Page.
“To my thinking, that’s the way it should be. It’s like a hospital or school. Fire coverage is extremely important and it shouldn’t be left to people to think ‘do I?'”
She believes that the community will have to pay but that the county should make it mandatory for people to contribute.
“It’s going to come out of our pockets one way or another,” said Page.
“Where does the county get their money? From taxes.”
While Parkin said the community will be expected to come up with their share, the project is projected to open in 2017.