A mutual aid agreement between the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek and Sparwood was on the table at the September 17th Crowsnest Pass municipal council meeting.
The concept of entering into the agreement between the three municipalities unanimously passed in it’s first reading although authorization to enter the agreement is not possible until the bylaw passes it’s second reading at the October 8th municipal council meeting.
“”In the event we have little manpower or resources we can call upon the other communities we have an agreement with,” said Myron Thompson, Chief Administrative Officer for the municipality of Crowsnest Pass.
The mutual aid agreement is officially entitled Bylaw 869 and would come into effect immediately once past it’s second reading, according to Thompson.
The bylaw incorporates the use of sharing emergency community resources such as; fire departments and local police services.
Thompson reviewed the written report for Bylaw 869, 2013- District of Sparwood Mutual Aid Agreement Bylaw before council.
Councillor Emile Saindon brought forward the idea to include an amendment that requires Crowsnest Pass municipal council to reconsider any decisions it makes if there are major changes to the Mutual Aid Agreement made before the second reading of Bylaw 869 on October 8th.
There are some limited downsides to the Mutual Aid Agreement, noted Thompson to the Pass Herald.
“If we are called upon and have our own situation we wouldn’t be able to help them,” he said.
The only recourse in such a situation is quite simple.
“We just communicate to (the municipality of Sparwood or Pincher Creek) and we got to one of the other partners,” said Thompson.
The new need for the municipalities to enter the agreement was underlined by the June flooding.
There was damage throughout the entire municipality of Crows-nest Pass, according to Thompson.
