By Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, East Central Alberta Review

Village of Alix councillors read a letter from Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson during their Dec. 7 regular meeting, noting very serious concerns Ponoka has with ambulance availability.

Ferguson listed many concerns including the fact an ambulance dispatched to respond to a recent hit-and-run in Ponoka was diverted en route to Red Deer. Ponoka apparently had a second ambulance sent to them from Leduc.

Ponoka is also concerned with the fact their firefighters were the first to arrive on medical event scenes 18 times within the last year.

Ponoka’s letter was sent to various departments in the provincial government.

The chief administrative officer noted Alix is fortunate to have its own first responders.

Retirements

A Lacombe Regional Emergency Management committee meeting report was submitted by Coun. Ed Cole. In the report Cole provided information from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) noting it is no longer part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs but now a part of Public Safety.

The report noted a “… large number of retiring field officers being filled.” Councillors accepted the report as information.