(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Fire response

RM council ponders blanket levy for fire suppression services

Feb 8, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland council is discussing some sweeping changes to the way ratepayers secure fire suppression services.

As it stands now, ratepayers have the option of paying a $125 levy each year, which covers them in the event of a fire. Those who don’t subscribe to the membership option, face the risk of paying full price for damages. Council members are discussing a blanket levy system where every ratepayer would pay. RM Administrator Cori Sarginson explained nothing is set in stone at this stage, and the goal is to eliminate confusion.

“When people are not members and they get billed for a fire, often the first thing we hear is ‘I didn’t know I could be [covered],” she said. “In the end what we are thinking is this is going to help those people that didn’t know.”

At this stage of the discussions, the exact figure people would pay has yet to be ironed out, and there are of course questions whether every property owner, regardless of how much land they own, would pay the same amount. Div. 4 Coun. Melinda Lavoie cited the example of a partnership between various family members.

“Would it be three times $125 or would they just pay once,” she said.

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Div. 3 Councillor Orest Romanchuk supports the idea of a universal levy. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

With the option of including all ratepayers, it would lead to a larger influx of cash for the Buckland Fire Department. Councillors were divided in their discussions whether the RM should pay a lower retainer or possibly only pay the fire department per fire rather than a set amount. Division 3 Coun. Orest Romanchuk reminded council that people are paying for the best possible services.

“When you go and buy a new truck to have there to protect people, and it’s like $450,000, that doesn’t fall out of the sky either,” he said.

Monday’s discussion was ultimately tabled to a future meeting.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell