New ES bylaw replaces ‘80’s-era version

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

A new emergency service bylaw has been passed in Coaldale.

During their regular April 22 meeting, Coaldale town council passed second and third reading of Emergency Services Bylaw 888-R-04-24.

The ES bylaw gives the town’s emergency services, such as the Coaldale and District Fire Department, the authority to properly respond to emergencies and enter property when there is a hazard to the public, while ensuring the Town is up to date on current best practices and services.

The bylaw previously received first reading during council’s April 2 meeting, and has since come back for the final readings with amendments council had suggested for it, “to include more of a broader term with emergency services” said Clayton Rutberg, director of protective services, emergency management and fire chief for the town.

“To allow us to capture some of the other services we deliver as an emergency services department,” said Rutberg of the changes. “As well as just refining some of the definitions to make sure that they captured the various positions within the department.”

Some of the changes to the bylaw include defining: Officer is defined to include the Fire Chief and their designation, and changing the name of the bylaw itself from Fire Service Bylaw to Emergency Services Bylaw.

The bylaw will replace the Fire Service Bylaw 148-AG-1-84, which was originally passed in 1984. Although numerous changes to the bylaw have been made over the years to modernize it and ensure the CDES has the proper authority and direction to respond to emergencies and implement strategies to prevent emergencies, the new bylaw will ensure that the Town is in line with current practices and legislation.

Council unanimously passed second, third and final reading of Emergency Services Bylaw 888-R-04-24.