The town is signing new fire dispatch and 911 service agreements with the City of Red Deer.
Terry Welsh, director of community and protective services, told town council earlier this month that the old ambulance agreement with Rocky Mountain Dispatch is being terminated as a result of the pending centralization of ambulance dispatch with Alberta Health Services.
“What that has done is taken away the economics from being able to provide the fire services,” said Welsh. “Without the ambulance providing both ambulance and fire, they can't make a go of it.”
The new five-year deal will also include a new E911 Call Answer Services Agreement with the City of Red Deer. Both agreements will be in effect by September, said Welsh.
The cost of the Fire Dispatch Services Agreement will be pro-rated to $4,212 for the remainder of 2013. The town will pay for this cost out of its operational contingency while payment for the remaining four years of the agreement will come out of the fire department's operational budget.
For 2014, the new agreement will cost Innisfail $16,246 and rise to $18,300 in 2017, the final year of the agreement.
For the new 911 Call Answer Services agreement, the municipal 911 communications fees will be transferred from the Town of Innisfail to the City of Red Deer.
