By Adam Ophus

Agreement Terminated

Clearwater County seeks new fire services agreement with Rocky, Caroline

Jun 25, 2019 | 9:17 AM

Clearwater County is seeking a new arrangement with Rocky Mountain House and Caroline when it comes to fire services.

The County sent a letter to the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Village of Caroline last week stating they would be terminating the existing Intermunicipal Regional Fire Rescue Services Agreement effective December 31, 2019.

“We are currently looking at all of our regional agreements and on June 14 we had an ICC meeting to discuss the regional fire, specifically,” explains Mayor Tammy Burke.

“On June 18 we were given a notice of termination from the County. So now what we’ll have to do is take the next six months to examine all of the options we have and to make sure that absolutely nothing is affected.”

In the letter, the County says a restructuring of the agreement is needed since they own the bulk of equipment assets that provide fire services and are the largest contributor and stakeholder in the partnership.

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The letter says the current agreement is “not effective.”

“Council directed administration to further discuss with the Town of Rocky Mountain House and Village of Caroline what partnership options might look like moving forward,” explained Clearwater County Reeve Jim Duncan.

“Council’s intent with leading the change to the fire agreement is to continue in the spirit of partnership and the best interest of the region as a whole, and not to alter fire rescue service levels in the area.”

The County also states that the only thing they wish to change is how things run behind the scenes and that all members of the Clearwater Fire Rescue Services don’t need to worry.

“There is no level of service change to the public, there is no change of organization, there’s no change of staff, there’s zero boots on the ground change to the structure,” says Clearwater Deputy Fire Chief Shawn St. Peter in regards to a revised agreement.