HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-10-10, Page 2Page 2 The Huron Expositor • October 10, 2007
News
Huron East questions Central Huron's decision
to withdraw from Seaforth area fire board
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
Unconvinced that Central Huron
will save any money by opting out of
the Seaforth Area Fire Board,
Huron East is sending a letter to
Central Huron's council.
"We're writing a letter back about
why it's a bad move they're mak-
ing," said Seaforth Coun. Joe
Steffler at Huron East's Oct. 2 coun-
cil meeting.
"We don't think their council was
supplied with near enough informa-
tion. There's a lot more to it than
dollars and cents," he said.
Central Huron council passed a
resolution to withdraw from the
Seaforth fire board as of Dec. 31 and
has asked for a new fee for fire ser-
vice agreement between the two
municipalities.
The decision came after Central
Huron council discussed how with
just seven calls in 17 months, it
wasn't worth it staying on the
board.
Discussion also centred around
the eight per cent levy ($36,732)
being requested of Central Huron in
2007, $29,440 of which to be allocat-
ed to capital spending including a
new pumper, bunker suits, a base
radio, generator, nozzle and fittings,
boots, helmets, coats and gloves.
In 2005 and 2006, Central
Huron's contribution to the Seaforth
Area Fire Board was $9,138 per
year.
Huron East's contribution to the
Central Huron Fire Area in 2006
was $13,480, nearly seven per cent
of the local budget. Huron East has
budgeted $13,600 for its levy to
Central Huron in 2007.
But, Huron East Clerk
Administrator Jack McLachlan said
opting out of the board will only
take away Central Huron's voice on
the fire area board, not reduce its
financial commitment.
"Central Huron will still be pay-
ing eight per cent of Seaforth's oper-
ating and capital costs but they'll
lose any say on the board about how
the money is spent," he said.
McLachlan said Seaforth has only
responded to six calls in Central
Huron in 2007 and two calls a year
from 2002 to 2006.
"(Huron East Fire Chief) Marty
(Bedard) provided us with our calls
to Clinton and Clinton's calls to us
and it looked like a wash to us,"
said Steffler.
Steffler said he didn't understand
why Central Huron wanted to pull
out of the fire agreement, adding
that the cost would be the same
under a fee for service agreement.
He said he hoped to sit down and
talk to council about the situation.
"We have no say if they stay in or
go but we'd like to see their reason-
ing. We'd like to know what they're
seeing that we're not," said Steffler.
McLachlan pointed out that by
withdrawing from the fire area
board agreement, Central Huron
will also lose any
equity in the
Seaforth fire
department in
the rare instance
that the fire
department dis-
solved.
Tuckersmith
Coun. Les
Falconer said he
believes there are
a number of loca-
tions in the cur-
rent agreement
with Central
Huron that
Seaforth could
cover better
itself.
He added
that Huron East
could benefit
from withdraw-
ing from the
agreement since
Central Huron is
looking at build-
ing a new fire
hall in Clinton.
"Whether we
want to be a part
of that or not
needs to be
looked at," he
said.
McKillop
Coun. Bill
Siemon warned
council that it
would be a liabil-
ity issue if
pulling out of the
agreement places
fire halls further
away from local
properties.
"So, don't go
there quickly," he
said.
McLachlan
said Central
Huron is hoping
for a 10 -year fee
for service agree-
ment.
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