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FREMS forced to restructure Priddis facility
By A proposal to reduce the number of personnel on the Priddis ambulance resulted in a heated discussion at the Foothills MD council meeting last Thursday.
Darren Sandbeck, executive director of Foothills Regional Emergency Services Commission (FREMS), announced at Thursday's council meeting that the Priddis ambulance would now have one paramedic instead of two.
'This is not a knee-jerk reaction,' said Sandbeck. 'The primary driver of the change is not financial it is operation efficiency, but the Priddis unit will continue to cost us significant amounts of money year after year (if we don't make the change).'
As of today (Wednesday) the two paramedics in Priddis will be transferred to Black Diamond and three shift leaders from Black Diamond will be moved to Priddis.
In the past, the Priddis Fire Hall, where the ambulance is housed, was manned 24 hours a day by two paramedics.
The unit will continue to operate on a full-time basis, but now one medic will be on site instead of two.
When a call comes for the Priddis unit it will be sent with one responder. Simultaneously, another unit from either Black Diamond or Okotoks will also be sent to the call to assist the Priddis unit.
Once the Priddis responder arrives on scene he or she will assess the situation and if assistance is deemed unnecessary, cancel the second unit.
The new service model proposed by Sandbeck met with staunch opposition from some members of the MD council specifically Division 4 Councillor Terry Waddock.
'This is appalling, this is terrible,' said Waddock of the change. 'This is an issue of significant concern in (the Priddis) area. The perception is that the service will be less with this change.'
Waddock argued that the FREMS proposal would, at times, mean slower response times for Priddis residents.
He continued that the residents in the northwest corner of the municipality pay their fair share of taxes and expect equal service which includes emergency services.
'Nobody is concerned with paying taxes for a fair, consistent level of service compared to any other area in the MD,' said Waddock who was visibly upset during the discussion.
Waddock urged council to put pressure on FREMS to either abandon the restructuring plan or at least delay the proposal until a hearing can be held in the region to inform the public about the impending change.
Councillor Flores Groeneveld warned council that it was not council's prerogative to tell FREMS how to run its business as the emergency service is a contractor to the MD and several other municipalities.
'As frustrated as you may be this is not a decision that can be made at this (council) table,' said the Division 5 councillor. 'FREMS runs itself.'
Sandbeck battled to reassure council that the restructuring was necessary and that it would not impact the level of service provided by FREMS to the residents in the Priddis area.
The Priddis ambulance has been in service for two years and its call volumes have steadily declined.
In 2000, the unit responded to 182 calls, but that number dropped by 14 per cent in 2001 to 156 calls.
As a result the Priddis unit is not self-sufficient costing FREMS approximately $1,000 per call.
Sandbeck said the costs of operating the Priddis facility are currently close to $300,000 whereas revenue from calls is less than $50,000.
The low call volume is a result of failed negotiations to develop partnerships with the MD of Rocky View, Tsuu T'ina Reserve and Redwood Meadows.
When the Priddis ambulance was put into service it was initially hoped the unit would not only service the MD of Foothills, but also neighboring municipalities.
'There was some political wrangling and subsequently it did not allow for this expansion to proceed,' said Sandbeck. 'As a result the call volume in Priddis is decreasing and in a system (FREMS) that has an overall increase of eight per cent the decrease in Priddis is substantial.'
While the move is being made to make the Priddis facility more efficient, Sandbeck stressed that it would not impact service.
'There will still be a paramedic on your doorstep in the same amount of time as there is now,' said Sandbeck. 'I firmly believe that we will not increase the response times in the Priddis area. We are offering the same level of service, we are just changing the model of how that service is provided.'
It is anticipated the FREMS committee will be calling an emergency meeting this week to discuss the issue.
In addition, FREMS will be distributing fact sheets regarding the restructuring in the Priddis area.
After his meeting with council Sandbeck said the process will proceed, but pledged to report back to the FREMS stakeholders after 90 days to report on the results of the revamped Priddis facility.
Sandbeck's reassurances did not appease concerned councillors.
'FREMS is a terrific service and this change will erode that service,' said Waddock. 'This will be a big disappointment to the people in the area.'
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This is your mission...
- photo by John Barlow
2004 Summer Games bid Games' selection committee tours communities Thursday
By Okotoks wants to throw a party in the summer of 2004 and the whole province is invited.
All that remains is whether or not Alberta will accept the invitation.
In celebration of the town's centennial Okotoks has joined with the Town of High River and the MD of Foothills to submit a bid for the 2004 Alberta Summer Games.
The provincial selection committee for the games will visit Okotoks tomorrow (Thursday) to see if the community is willing, able and wanting to host the Games. 'We want to throw a party and invite everyone in the whole province,' said Diane Turner of the local bid committee.
Before Alberta can come to the party, the people of Okotoks need to put their party hats on.
As the selection committee meanders through Okotoks on Thursday it is hoped they will be overwhelmed by the support for the local bid. The bid committee is encouraging businesses to decorate their windows and for residents to tie ribbons on their trees, fences, cars and whatever else they can find.
Thursday's tour will begin at D'Arcy Ranch at 10:30 am and include visits to a variety of recreation facilities such as Riverside Community Park, Wylie Athletic Park and the Okotoks Recreation Centre.
One of the keys to the tour will be a hay ride through downtown Okotoks beginning at noon.
The parade through the downtown core is the best opportunity for Okotokians to show their support of the games. 'We want everyone to watch for us on Elizabeth Avenue and come out and join the party,' said Turner. 'We really want to welcome the selection committee. We really want to show them we have the support of the business community, the residents and the youth.'
Although a throng of supporters lining the street is not a clincher for a community to be awarded the games, it certainly doesn't hurt.
Heading the selection committee will be games manager Dennis Allen of Alberta Sport and Recreation.
Allen has visited Okotoks and High River several times and so far he likes what he sees.
'It is still not a slam dunk, but based on what I have seen the bid will be viewed as being very strong,' said Allen. 'The bid committee has done a lot of things right. We have been very impressed on how Okotoks and High River have been able to work together and get the MD of Foothills involved.'
How important is it to have visual proof of community support for the bid?
'We want to see the municipal government, the businesses and everyone to come together,' answered Allen. 'There needs to be support and enthusiasm from Joe Citizen and be aware (the selection committee) is here and why we are here.'
So far Turner said the response from the community has been great with numerous calls from potential volunteers wanting to donate their time and expertise despite the fact Okotoks and High River have yet to win the bid.
'People want to be involved and that is absolutely wonderful,' gushed Turner.
If Okotoks truly wants to be involved now is the time.
Get out on Elizabeth Street tomorrow and wave a flag, toot your horn, scream and yell, play your banjo or bang on anything that will make some noise and let Alberta know the party is in Okotoks in 2004.
