The photo Mutual Aid on page 9 of the April 18 edition of the Sooke News Mirror is thought provoking. Do we, as taxpayers, not pay EPCOR enough through the five-year contract, for it to do its own sewer flushing?
Using the fire department seems like EPCOR is subsidizing it’s operations on the backs of taxpayers.
It would appear that the fire department, specifically it’s leadership, may be operating in it’s own reality.
Recently a member of the fire department is alleged to have attended a movie in Langford and used a departmental vehicle for transport which gives rise to a number of questions, such as:
Is there a policy which spells out appropriate use of vehicles and does it allow for private use?
What are the implications had there been an accident?
Does the insurance policy allow for private use of fire department vehicles?
Has the member compensated the district for use of the vehicle?
The member might be moved to claim that he was “on call” but one has to wonder about his response time and judgement in that event.
Issues like these make a mockery of the council’s efforts to deliver a budget that reflects the current fiscal realities and clearly demonstrate that some people do not get it.
D. R. Matland
Sooke
