Mountain View County council will consider a $20,000 funding request from the Sundre volunteer fire department to help pay for a proposed new training facility.
Firefighter Robert McBride made a presentation to the policies and priorities committee on Nov. 5 outlining the proposed facility.
“We want to construct a small-scale training facility to conduct our weekly training exercises,” said McBride. “As it is right now we don't have space in the current hall to train on a weekly basis. This would allow for more realistic types of training as well as creating more efficient fire crews.”
The objective is to construct the facility in southwest Sundre at a total cost of about $45,000. The Town of Sundre is also being asked to provide funding.
The policies and priorities committee is made up of county councillors.
The Sundre facility would be used for ongoing training in structure firefighting and other things.
The proposed two-storey sea-can style building would be equipped to conduct ladder training, rope training, self-contained breathing apparatus drills, and pumper drills using charged lines.
The building itself would be eight feet wide, eight and a half feet high, 20 feet on the bottom floor and smaller on the top floor. There would be a ladder inside the facility.
The facility could be moved to a different location in short order without too much effort, he said.
The Sundre facility would allow department members to conduct more frequent training than is currently possible by travelling to the Olds training facility, he said.
It would also be more economical than having to travel to Olds for every training session, he said.
“It's something we could use on a weekly basis and save costs and time,” he said.
Asked by Deputy Reeve Patricia McKean whether the facility could be used by other departments in the region for training, he said, “absolutely.”
“We are not trying to taking anything away from what Olds already has. What they have built there is incredible. We use it the same as every other department in the county does,” he said.
Coun. Jeremy Sayer said he has a concern that if the county gives support to the Sundre facility other departments in the county may want to build similar structures.
“We've got five departments in the county,” said Sayer. “I'm looking at Water Valley and Carstairs and they would have very similar travel times to Olds (as Sundre). I'm looking at the potential to see the request for more of these kinds of training facilities. I really hesitate because then instead of looking at potential $40,000, we are looking at a potential $200,000 cost. I'll be honest, I don't see the need for it.”
McKean called the proposed facility a good thing for the training of county firefighters.
“I actually do support this. These are volunteer firefighters and I appreciate their time. I have no problem with it,” said McKean.
Coun. Al Kemmere said, “I agree that these provide tremendous training. I'm just concerned with having them all over the place. So that's my concern.”
Coun. Ken Heck said he supports the proposal.
“To me it doesn't seem to be a huge price, and one thing I think we have to do is assist our volunteer firefighters. I believe in making it as good for them as we can. Volunteer firefighters are not easy to come by. It takes a lot of time and everything else. I can support this for sure,” said Heck.
Reeve Bruce Beattie said ongoing firefighter training is vital to firefighter and public safety.
“We need to put the emphasis on training and $20,000 of our budget for this kind of facility which is a long-lasting piece of equipment, I think is a pretty good investment and I support it,” said Beattie.
“We ask them (firefighters) to put their lives on the line and so I don't think this is an unreasonable request,” he added.
Coun. Angela Aalbers said, “I very, very much support it and it is a good use of our funding.”
Councillors passed a motion forwarding the matter to an upcoming council meeting for consideration of the $20,000 funding request.
Councillors also instructed department officials to come back with additional information about the proposed location.
The policies and priorities committee also received a delegation report from Olds Search and Rescue officials Jack Humphries and Rick Astle regarding a proposal to have the group enter into a long-term lease with the county to construct a building on county property.
The building would include an office, meeting room, washroom and storage area.
“As we are to arrange for financing of the building, installation of utility services, etc., we are asking that a long-term renewable lease agreement be arranged with the county,” Humphries said in a letter received by the committee.
“As a volunteer society we require a fire lease or titled land to be able to fundraise for a building. The lease would need to be of a minimal cost, similar to the arrangement with Didsbury and Sundre search and rescue organizations.”
Councillors instructed administration to have further discussions with the society with the aim of finding a suitable location for a building. Following those talks, a report would be brought back to council.
"It's something we could use on a weekly basis and save costs and time."Robert McBrideSundre firefighter
