At one time in our past the Village of Beiseker was part of NERVFA, or the North East Rocky View Fire Association. The association was formed in the very early 1970s to provide fire protection to the village and the surrounding area which had very minimal fire services up to then. A number of years after that, in a spat over control, Beiseker withdrew from NERVFA and went on its own.
I contended then and still contend that a small village the size of Beiseker cannot support the equipment to maintain an independent fire department! Supporting the Beiseker Fire Department (BFD) has cost this village hundreds of thousands of dollars since its breakaway from NERVFA more than 20 years ago! NERVFA has now become part of the County's fire services and I truly believe that Beiseker must rejoin that service!
I have nothing but admiration for the volunteer firefighters of the BFD who attend weekly practices and "make do" with older, used equipment and do a fantastic job! But much of that equipment needs replacement and the village cannot afford that cost.
By becoming part of a larger system again, some of those costs will be spread over a larger base, making equipment replacement, training, and other upgrades more feasible. In this time of regional programs and projects, I think this is a good way to go. All negotiations have centered around the fact that the Beiseker Fire Station and most of the personnel will remain.
If this change takes place, will there be glitches? Yes! But I don't anticipate any problem which a cannot be overcome with level heads and dialogue!
Let me know what you think. Let the Village Office know what you think about this issue.
