Battleford town council has thrown water on the idea of integrating the management of the town's fire department with North Battleford.
While Mayor Derek Mahon said he was "open to discussion" and expressed his willingness to meet with North Battleford's mayor and city administration officers on "a number of things - not just this one in particular," he and others on council made clear that integration of the management of the two fire departments was not a priority.
"We're quite comfortable and I'm personally quite comfortable with the management of the Battleford fire department the way it sits today," said Mahon.
Others on council were far less enthused, with councillor David George saying "it's just absolutely absurd we would entertain the thought of joining with them."
The mayor's comments were in response to a controversial recent North Battleford Fire Services Review report, commissioned by North Battleford from Ontario-based T.L. Powell Services. One of the recommendations called for integrating the management for both North Battleford Fire and Battleford Fire.
Consultant Tom Powell's report suggested the concept would improve service levels for both communities, but his report also acknowledged "there are some deep and strong negative feelings towards such a merger that would take a passage of time to settle down.
"Politically, it is seen as an issue that may cause some resentment and therefore is not on the top of any political 'to do' list. The two Departments appear to work well together and do support each other through Mutual Aid response protocols," the report stated.
Mahon addressed the report directly in his response at council Monday, noting the report was not commissioned by the Town of Battleford.
He did acknowledge, however, that the Battleford fire department did cooperate with the consultants as they prepared their findings. The consultants had asked for and were granted a tour of Battleford fire hall by the fire chief and deputy fire chief for about an hour, said Mahon.
"Our folks really had no idea what they [the consultants] were doing," Mahon said at council.
The report had referred to "stakeholders" having raised the question of merging the two departments under one management system. The mayor made clear the stakeholders didn't include any of them.
"I don't believe they spoke to the administrator of the Town of Battleford, or to the mayor and council," he said.
The mayor did, however, acknowledge the statement in the report about the two departments appearing to work well together. Mahon said there had been a working relationship between the two departments and that had been ongoing for a number of years.
Members of council were far less diplomatic than the mayor in their remarks, making known their complete lack of enthusiasm for integrating Battleford and North Battleford fire departments.
"I think what should be stressed is we work very well together," said councillor Gordon Yarde about the two departments, adding "this idea of amalgamation -- I'm not happy with it."
"I agree totally. Amalgamation is not on my priority list," said councillor Shelley Boutin-Gervais.
Councillor David George went even further. In declaring the idea "absolutely absurd," George questioned whether integration of fire services would even be cost-effective.
George pointed in particular to North Battleford Fire's costs being "almost ten times as much as we have."
George also voiced support for those with Battleford's fire department, saying "if people understand how competent our fire department is, I think it's a no-brainer."
