An open letter to Midway mayor and council – Re: Resignation of Midway’s Volunteer Fire Department:
We are extremely concerned with recent developments concerning our volunteer fire department and the resignations of the volunteer firemen!
The issue regarding the emergency radio and communication systems has been ongoing for a number of years and should have been resolved long ago. While we fortunately don’t have many fires in the village, the services provided by the volunteers is vital to the well being of the residents of Midway and the surrounding area.
Resolution of this matter must be the top priority of council! We need a viable fire department and what we don’t need is jurisdictional and political infighting! We must move forward as a united community and for the overall good of the citizens of this community.
Besides the safety aspect of this matter, we are also concerned about the status of our house insurance. I suspect the resignation of the complete fire department has voided the house insurance policies of the residents of Midway! Certainly, without adequate fire protection service our policies will likely double or triple in cost! In other words, we either pay for an acceptable communication system or we pay the corporate insurance companies!
One further comment: council must insure that any councillor representing Midway at regional, provincial and any other inter-agency group must take direction from council and not act on their own. Council represents the voters of Midway and all members of council must act on behalf of the people. To this end it is essential that our representatives to these outside groups report regularly to council and receive direction accordingly.
I trust this matter involving our fire department will be resolved quickly and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Wayne and Lynn Wickens, Midway