Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire chief warns pumper won’t be routinely sent on mutual-aid calls; council records tax arrears enforcement and fundraiser plans
Summary
The Fire Chief told council St. George's pumper will not be routinely deployed under a mutual-aid arrangement to avoid leaving the town unprotected; council also heard staff say residents with unpaid taxes and no contact will face water shutoffs and noted a fundraiser to buy a rescue vehicle.
During the Sept. 12 meeting the Fire Chief briefed council on a recent mutual-aid discussion with Stephenville Crossing officials and explained the department’s operational limits.
According to the minutes, the Fire Chief told council that the town's department "would not be responding with our pumper as it will be leaving our residents unprotected should something happen. They would respond with the pumper if at any time that it was needed for an emergency." The chief also outlined recent call statistics and said a fundraiser is underway to raise funds for a new rescue vehicle.
Separately, Town Manager Danny Conway reported on collection efforts for outstanding property taxes. The minutes state that notices of arrears have been sent; some residents have begun paying in full or on monthly plans, and "the ones with no contact to the Town will be getting their water cut starting on Tuesday." Council recorded this enforcement approach as ongoing.
Council took no recorded formal vote on the mutual-aid protocol at the Sept. 12 meeting; the chief’s explanation was entered as part of staff correspondence. The department’s stated approach underscores the town’s position that equipment deployments must preserve local coverage.
Council also approved a $100 donation to the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital Foundation (Motion #79/24) during the meeting.
