The Town of Ponoka has formally entered into a regional fire services agreement with Ponoka County to provide fire protection services to the town.

The new deal took effect at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon. (March. 2nd, 2018).

After a few years of disagreements between the county and town fire departments, they were able to hash out an agreement that saw the town dissolve their department that's been operating since 1906.

Ponoka County Reeve Paul Mclauchlin says this will ensure both county and town have safe and effective fire services for the foreseeable future.

“I think you will see from the town’s taxpayer stand point, I think you will see a reduction in the fire services budgeting, but I think at the same time we have a fully effective, efficient modern fire services which is what we’ve always wanted, and we want to make sure we got the best volunteers with the best, safest equipment possible and they can do the best job they can, so I think it’s a win-win all around.”

Ponoka CAO Albert Flootman says the town will provide the county with some of their old equipment, as well as pay for upkeep on it. 

“The newer town fire engine, which was acquired two years ago, and the town’s ladder truck will be sold to the county, and the county will be paying us based on a fair, depreciated value for those items. And then of course the $70,000 a year that we are paying to the county will go to maintaining and replacing those trucks in the future.”

No word yet on what will become of the old fire hall, but the town is thanking Ponoka Fire Department members for their service, with current fire service staff and volunteer firefighters receiving fair and equitable treatment in accordance to existing contracts and legal obligations as their positions are effectively eliminated, according to Flootman.

The town will pay an annual fee of $140,000 to the county to ensure the town's fire needs are fully served. This fee is based on a fee-for-service rate that is equivalent to the rate paid by Alberta Transportation for emergency response to motor vehicle accidents on Highway 2.