tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post3724038592142854087..comments2023-06-24T01:19:24.380-06:00Comments on Write Ray!: Q&A: Taxes and Services (and Community Schools)Ray Courtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13643220772745933250noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-64782050177781402802015-06-20T21:02:18.982-06:002015-06-20T21:02:18.982-06:00Hi Anon; I don't know if I can really comment...Hi Anon; I don't know if I can really comment on what you've said since we appear to be on the very same page and in total agreement! So, What you said!!Ray Courtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13643220772745933250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-26566701809552965902015-06-19T15:52:39.366-06:002015-06-19T15:52:39.366-06:00First off, as a comment to your post today (Above)...First off, as a comment to your post today (Above), over 85% of the province of Alberta is protected by Volunteer fire stations, no Beiseker, Irricana, Acme, Linden, Carbon, ect do not have full time fire stations. If he has a solution to that problem there are 30 guys down at the hall that would love to get paid for what they do, and would love to hear your ideas. <br /><br />Emergency service and the towns safety is obviously our number one priority, but a huge part of the fire service is reaching the community through none emergency initiatives. Fire prevention, public information sessions at the school, sports day and community center, free blood pressure reading, station tours as well as training are just some of the ways that Besieker fire reaches out to the public not only to make our presents on the town known, but to also educate the town and its residence on fire safety and what to do in an emergency. We are hosting a garage sale June 27th that everyone is more the welcome to come to, and every day of the week we have guys at the station willing to answer any questions residence may have about the fire department. The Besieker fire association has just made flyers for the department highlighting what we do who we are, soon they should be available at some select places around town and at the station! Any other ideas on how we can make our selfs more known in the town please let me know. Even if that includes having our airraid siren on more offen!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-76502466535230645332015-06-18T11:33:40.703-06:002015-06-18T11:33:40.703-06:00Thanks Anon! Of course I totally agree! But there...Thanks Anon! Of course I totally agree! But there are still a few Beisekerians out there who think we don't have a fire department. What can you do?Ray Courtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13643220772745933250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774469681419460608.post-46486722602995582142015-06-16T11:34:26.219-06:002015-06-16T11:34:26.219-06:00The fire department in Beiseker (Station 130) IS o...The fire department in Beiseker (Station 130) IS one of the best in Canada, we are one of the only stations left in Alberta that is not paid, or paid on call. With almost 30 firefighters, officers and chief on staff not one of them gets a paycheck for the countless hours we put in. The firefighters come from all over Calgary, Airdrie, Beiseker and surrounding area and do shifts at the station, anywhere from 10 - 24 or even 48 hour shifts in the hall. This is 100% at our own cost and doesn't impact taxpayers. Majority of the guys we have on staff are all internationally certified firefighters, through CRESTG, the county of Rockyview or even going to Texas and completing the certification there, as well as certified EMR's (Emergency Medical Responders, one level below EMT). We also have a contract with the County of Rockyview (which we are very proud of) to allow us to assist in fire suppression, motor vehicle collisions and other emergencies outside the village and in the county, providing customer service to the village of Beiseker residence traveling to and from work on the highways, and assisting Station 108 in Irricana providing service for residence in the county and town of Irricana. The Village council and firefighters in Beiseker have worked very hard to achieve this and we couldn't be happier being here to help anyone at anytime. For over a year now we have never not had anyone in town to respond to a call and now it is rare for us to not have at least 4 responders on a truck at any time of day, any day of the year. With an average response time of 3min 48seconds to over 65 calls this year, we are competing with the city of Calgary response times and customer service! Proud to be 130. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com