ATHABASCA — Following the cooperation of nine volunteer firefighting departments in battling the July 23 blaze that destroyed the Grand Union Hotel, the Town of Athabasca and the Village of Boyle have put their willingness to work together on future fires in writing.
During the Aug. 13 Town of Athabasca council meeting, elected officials voted to unanimously direct administration to enter into a Fire Services agreement with the village to cover the gap left by current agreements in place with Athabasca County.
The item was brought forward from the Aug. 7 village council meeting, where all five Boyle officials lent their support to starting discussions with the town.
“The Emergency Response Agreement that the village has with Athabasca County does not specify the Town of Athabasca as a mutual aid municipality,” wrote Boyle CAO Warren Griffin in an email to the town.
“This agreement would further secure mutual aid emergency response for our municipalities when required and would also provide post-emergency event administrative clarity.”
Village councillors voted again to accept Athabasca’s approval of the agreement as information during their Aug. 21 meeting with a vote of 4-0, as Mayor Colin Derko was absent.
“It’s good to have agreements in place so there is no misunderstandings,” said Athabasca Mayor Rob Balay in an Aug. 21 follow-up. “Councils change, so if agreements are in place from council to council, there’s continuity.”
