Paradise Fire Hall? I'm Not Holding My Breath.

Well, well, well. How things can change in 24 hours. On Sunday, Paradise Mayor Ralph Wiseman was quoted in The Telegram saying, “It's well known in the community here that we've partnered with the Rovers (Ground Search and Rescue Team) who are in the process of putting up a building and in that building there will be accommodation for a first response fire truck." No mention of a time line or having our own fire hall. Plus, it’s not well known. There is no mention of a fire hall in the town’s Five Year Strategic Plan.

Less than a day later, he’s quoted by CBC stating the squad is ‘18 to 24 months from realization, however it would be fully equipped with its own pumper and ‘ "will be a full-paid fire department, 24/7." ‘ Hmmm, you’d think he would have mentioned that fact to the Tely.

I guess public pressure can have an inpact – although I’ll believe we’ll have a fire station when I see it. The former council left a trial of broken promises. And Wiseman didn’t do himself any favours by blaming the area residents who built homes on unserviced lots. The town okayed them and now it’s the residents fault? And what the hell does the size of the lot have to do with fighting a fire. This guy is a piece of work.

Below are the mandate and critical areas outlined in the Five Year Strategic Plan for the Town of Paradise. Nowhere is a fire hall, fire services, first response building or plans of implementing such services specifically mentioned.

The town’s mandate:   Simply put, a municipalities’ mandate is its basic obligations to the people it serves – nothing more and nothing less.

We are obliged to collect taxes, provide services, and represent the people we serve in accordance with the terms of our incorporation and provisions of the Municipalities Act.

And here are the six critical areas that council feels it needs to concentrate their efforts for the next number of years:

1. Roads, transportation, traffic, and access
2. Continued expansion of the town’s infrastructure
3. Recreational programs and facilities
4. Economic development and business attraction
5. Planning and development
6. Communications and accountability

On paper they appear to be noble goals but implementation is another thing. Again, no mention of a fire hall. It goes on to state 'a town’s strategic plan is completely deficient if it does not articulate a clear vision for itself for the future.

Some other gems from the document, which by the way, is written in a truly condescending tone. You’d think all residents in Paradise were in grade three.

• Council is fully aware of these needs and they have been committed to establishing their             priorities in keeping with the needs and priorities of residents.
• The values and principals of council should be a reflection of the principles of the people they serve.
• Paradise does not want to be viewed as a series of large scale housing developments.

Well that last ship has sailed. Let’s hope the present council wakes up and does repeat the mistakes of previous councils. Slow down the development and implement a plan before allowing such rapid growth. The infrastructure is not in place – and that mistake falls squarely in your lap.