ALBERTON—At a special meeting Monday night, Alberton council determined its fire department will not respond to calls outside township limits.
“It’s as simple as black and white,” noted Coun. Doug Mitchell. “They cannot go outside the boundaries because our municipality can’t get into the liability issues—that’s just the way it is.”
The decision came after the Alberton fire department responded to three blazes in Miscampbell in the last 18 months.
Alberton Fire Chief Cory Jewell noted the firefighters want to respond to these calls, but regulations prevent them from doing so legally.
For instance, their insurance won’t cover them outside the township.
And then there are liability issues, such as if the fire truck was responding to a call in Miscampbell when another call came in from within Alberton township.
“It’s a hard decision to make, but it has to be made,” Coun. Mitchell added, saying he was sure the Devlin fire department doesn’t respond to calls in Dance or Northwest Bay.
“But we’ve responded to these calls before and everyone has mixed feelings about it,” Chief Jewell remarked.
Several of the department’s firefighters were on hand for Monday night’s special meeting and made it clear they understood the situation, but weren’t happy with it.
“I’ll quit the department before I tell someone I won’t help them,” one firefighter said. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if someone was hurt in a fire.”
He said he joined the fire department nearly 30 years ago because a baby was lost in a blaze.
“If you save one life, it’s worth everything you put into it,” he added.
Chief Jewell also noted many Miscampbell residents are under the impression they are protected by the Alberton fire department—and wants them to know that is not the case.
It is Alberton’s hope that someone from Miscampbell will step up and reinstate the fire department
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there, which fell by the wayside years ago.
“If they join mutual aid, then we’d be able to help them,” Coun. Mitchell stressed.
“As a community, they just need to get together,” Coun. Louis Collier remarked. “Someone there has to take the bull by the horn.”
< *c>Rainycrest deal
In other business at Monday night’s special meeting, Alberton council discussed material it received—and the communication of that material—regarding the transfer of Rainycrest Home for the Aged to Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc.
“The board [of management at Rainycrest] sat on these important papers and didn’t pass them along to the municipalities until just recently,” noted Coun. Mitchell.
But the township’s board rep, Ken McKinnon, stressed he didn’t receive the document until last week, either.
The papers in question are of a funding agreement between the board and Rainy River District municipalities, which must be signed by Oct. 18—the closing date for the deal.
The agreement states the municipalities will continue to pay their current levy, but it will be reduced by a certain percentage each year until the end of the 10-year term.
“This deal is in the best interest for the municipality, the taxpayers, and the people at Rainycrest,” noted Coun. Barb Cournoyer.
But due to the lack of time now provided, Alberton council is worried other municipalities will not be able to meet, review, and sign the agreement before the deadline.
And if all the municipalities are not on board by then, the deal will be withdrawn—meaning the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care will keep control of Rainycrest and the municipalities will fund in perpetuity with no say whatsoever.
Alberton council claimed the board had the information and materials since mid-summer but did not pass them along.
In fact, several municipalities weren’t aware of the deal, nor having to pass a resolution to authorize signing of this funding agreement, until the morning of Sept. 22.
Atikokan’s treasurer passed the information along after Mayor Dennis Brown learned some of the municipalities were not up to speed.
“Why did Atikokan pass the resolution the first week of September and we didn’t receive it until last week?” Coun. Mike Ford asked McKinnon.
“Why didn’t we know about it ongoingly?” echoed Coun. Cournoyer. “Now we’re hit with all this information and a lot of reading.”
McKinnon again stressed he didn’t know anything until just recently.
“This is suspicious,” declared Coun. Ford. “This deal might fall through now because councils can’t call meetings to get this ratified.”
“There’s not much else we can do now, but move forward,” added Coun. Cournoyer. “I just hope the other municipalities will be able to.”
Alberton council passed the resolution authorizing the signing of the funding agreement, but is waiting for reassurance that it is in proper form.
They expect to sign the funding agreement before the Oct. 18 deadline.
(Fort Frances Times)
