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The Town of Battleford and the R.M. of Battle River renewed their Fire and Protective Services agreement this week. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)
Longstanding partnership

Town and R.M. renew fire protection services agreement

Aug 20, 2020 | 1:04 PM

The Town of Battleford and the R.M. of Battle River No. 438 opted to renew their longstanding partnership for fire protection services for the R.M. at council this week.

The two parties have been working toward a revised agreement over a year, reflecting changes suggested by both sides. Mayor Ames Leslie said it will help operations run more smoothly, given population increases.

“It aligns with the growth of both communities and the cover of costs of providing services to the R.M.,” Leslie said.

Some of the key changes to the agreement include enhanced oversight and compliance. There will also be a new retainer calculation model.

“This just puts a little more explanation into the control and appliance factor of the agreement,” Leslie said.

Reeve Joe Beckman said this is an acceptable, workable agreement, continuing the relationship between the town and the R.M.

“It’s always been quite excellent,” Beckman said.

Per the agreement, the commanding officer of the Battleford Fire Department has absolute control and authority over use of vehicles and members, determining the need for additional equipment or manpower for large incidents and decisions made during severe weather conditions. The R.M. pays an annual retainer fee to the town, calculated annually.

josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports

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