Friction causes fire split

Times Contributor

 

A vote was called at the Annual General Meeting of the Strathmore Rural Firefighting Association, held on April 26. The vote, which was to split the Association into two entities, had all hands go up in the affirmative.

Previously Strathmore Rural Fire Association and the Carseland Fire Association were governed by the same board. While the two will still work together on mutual aid agreements, the goal is for them to longer be governed by the same board. 

“As board members we all feel that the separation is a very good idea, it has been a long time coming. We have dealt with problems too long. We have dealt with personalities and issues and other things that are inherent in one entity looking after two services,” said Lou Delgado, Association President.

“In my opinion we have had some pretty big problems over the years, I’ve seen some gong shows around here, but we have always got along. But now we have a pretty big problem and it seems to me pretty unsolvable,” confirmed Board member Dale Hanson, board member for 20 years. “I think it is a three part problem.”

Outlined first were the financial issues for the association. Forty per cent of the funding was unilaterally cut back, disrupting the Association’s business plan. They fundraise and work casinos just to make ends meet. 

Secondly, in the last few years, the firefighters have had never-ending personality conflicts. Hanson said dealing with personality problems had been difficult for the board. He reminded members why they decided to be involved with firefighting and asked that they retain that focus.

Personality problems are not new to any workplace. Where there are different people there are always differing opinions and conflicts to deal with. 

In a study done by Josephine Pizzino (2002), she showed that 69 per cent of Canadians had experienced verbal aggression in the workplace.  It is aggravated by high stress levels, feelings of unfair treatment, financial pressures and budget cuts, downsizing and pressures for greater productivity. It leads to low morale and a disorganized viability.  A report by Coombs and Halladay done in 2004 found that unaddressed aggressive communication in the workplace often leads to more serious forms of aggression. Delgado said it was time to deal with the problem.

The third problem was getting board members out to meetings. Hanson suggested that in his opinion, the service had become too big for the association to run. 

The board members are also volunteers and have to be rural ratepayers; and they are largely farmers, who have to meet around the needs of agricultural demands. Delgado hopes the split will encourage new members to come forward and be involved, while shortening the distance to meetings for both new Associations. Delgado thinks having a central focal point for each service will improve things as well.

 “I think we will have a board that is more locally oriented and more in tune with the local needs and pressures and members desires,” said Delgado about splitting the board.

Delgado was voted interim President at the meeting, with Vice Chair Harold Bartelen and Secretary Jennifer Thorne. The Association will have some challenges to deal with prior to the split, such as how to deal with funding, division of equipment, liability issues and resolving contracts with the County of Wheatland. The decision for splitting the Association and fire departments will be tabled to the May 1 County of Wheatland council meeting and members hoped to have the issue completed by July 1, 2012. The decision rests with County councillors, as the fire departments have to operate under the county mandates.