County concerned over resignations of BESC officials

County Councillors were left scratching their heads and wondering if the Beaver Emergency Services Commission was such a good idea after all in light of the news that both Regional Fire Chief David Zayonce and Deputy Regional Fire Chief Cindy Conroy had resigned.

Zayonce left at the end of April to take up duties in Camrose. Conroy is gone by May 17 to become Deputy Fire Chief in Wetaskiwin.

In an interview with the Weekly Review in Viking, where the BESC offices are headquartered, BESC chairperson Ken Ruzicka said he was “shocked” to get the resignations.

The BESC oversees all fire departments within the perimeter of Beaver County. It was proclaimed as the first such regional emergency services authority in Alberta and looked to as a model for other jurisdictions considering the same move.

However, now the model appears to be in trouble.

By Patricia Harcourt
Staff Reporter

For more see the May 21/13 issue of the Tofield Mercury