FIRE COMMISSIONS IN AREA B... ARE THEY NEEDED?

Recently the topic of FIRE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSIONS were posed at both COMMUNITY MEETINGS I recently hosted at Parkland Community Centre (October 14, 2012) and Bouchie Lake Hall (October 20, 2012).   As such, I thought I would provide some insight in the status and purpose of Fire Commission in hopes that residents will provide feedback as to whether they feel these commissions are important and should once again exist.  From my understanding, Area B had Fire Commissions functioning within it until about 5-6 years ago. 

 Cariboo Regional District Bylaw 3598, 2000 provides for the establishment of FIRE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSIONS for each of its Fire Protection Areas.  Within Area B, this Bylaw allows for the establishment of a BOUCHIE LAKE FIRE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION and a Ten Mile Fire Services Advisory Commission.   Ten Mile Fire Protection boundaries include portions of Electoral Area C. 

Following are some specifics about Fire Commissions extracted from Bylaw 3598:

 

The Fire Services Advisory Commission members shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Electoral Area Director(s) from the participating areas. 

 All Commission members shall be either property owners or residents within the boundaries of the respective Fire Protection Area. 

Neither the Electoral Area Director(s) nor members of the Volunteer Fire Department are eligible for appointment to the Fire Services Advisory commission.

All members of the Commission shall serve without remuneration.                                                                     

 The general mandate of the Commission may include:

a) Providing advice to the Electoral Area Director(s) relative to matters he/she may refer to the Commission for comment.

b) Providing input into the annual budget and tax rate* (prior to the adoption of the Cariboo Regional District’s provisional budget, a draft budget will be presented to the Commission for review and comment).

 c)  Providing input into present and future service delivery issues.

d) Assisting the Director(s), as requested, in ancillary fire department activities (i.e. assisting with the election of Fire Chief process such as ballot counting, input into long range planning, etc.).
 
*In 2012, Residential Tax Rate for Bouchie Lake Fire Protection was $67.78 / $100,000.00 whereas for 10 Mile Lake Fire Protection the residential tax rate / $100,000 was $79.20. 

 If you feel that Fire Service Advisory Commissions should be re-established for the two protection areas within Area B, and /or you are interested in being a member of one of these commissions, please let me know.  Comments can be posted here or emailed to me a hdixon-warren@cariboord.bc.ca

RESPONSES RECEIVED TODATE ON THIS BLOG POSTING...

Bouchie Lake Resident (October 23, 2012)
Yes - keeps the CRD grounded in reality instead of looking after their own agenda.... Example -  fire trucks that will do the job (get to the fire in reasonable time instead of struggling up Bouchie Lake hill) and not just the cheapest truck the CRD can purchase.

Go to Fort St. John and have a look at their Fire Department equipment and incentives.

Ten Mile Lake resident (October 25, 2012)
Honestly, they were great when the hall was first starting, but now that we are up and running there is very little that goes on that warrants oversite.  The management staff in Williams Lake and your self being involved at budget time has worked well. As for elections of the Chief and counting ballots? It has never happened in the 11 years I have been there.  The chief is also voted so by the membership of the hall.

 If some community member really wants to know that we spent $1373 dollars on hose, or $57 on toilet paper then sure but it starts to get a bit ridiculous.  The budget are set, we live within them.  If we need capital we ask and it goes before the board.

Perhaps if they had more of a recruitment, or community awareness function to them than and oversite function it would be more useful. 

Bouchie Lake resident (October 25, 2012)

We have enough trouble finding people for the commissions we have. If you look into I think the CRD got rid of the Commision. I remember hearing stuff about it but can't remember. talk to Jim Braem he will know

Ten Mile Lake resident (October 25, 2012)

I would suggest that the Fire Services Advisory Commisions position stays open in the Ten Mile Lake area for long term planning issues.