The February 7 District of Barriere Council meeting was a fairly short meeting, although a lot was discussed.
Council members entertained a delegation - Glenda and Doug Thompson, residents of Barriere spoke to council regarding the Advanced Life Support Ambulance system that is currently run in the North Thompson region.
“On January 14, my husband’s doctor called for an ambulance, as he figured my husband was having a second heart attack,” Glenda explained, “The medication needed to reverse or stop further heart damage is needed within one hour of having an attack, and half that time for stroke victims. The doctor followed procedure and phoned BC Bed Line and had nothing but trouble communicating with the person on the phone that we needed the advance life support ambulance. It took just over two hours for the ambulance to arrive, which is unacceptable. It would be a great benefit to all residents to have the advanced life support in place right here in Barriere, and I am requesting that you take this matter to council at your next meeting.”
Mayor Fennell responded that this program is run through the BC Ambulance Association and Interior and Provincial Health, and that small communities such as Barriere are unlikely to get their own. However, they will be contacting those organizations to get clarification on how this system is supposed to work, and to find out why it took so long. Council said they will try to have some answers for the next meeting.
Council members approved several recommendations from the Cemetery Committee, including the open/close fee for full burials to be increased by $100. This will cover the cost not only of opening and closing the grave site, but also the reseeding, leveling, and marking of the grave.
Councillor Smith announced that the Bandshell Committee are planning to have the grand opening of the Bandshell on May 8, 2011. Councillor Stanley is the chair of this committee, and McLure resident Karina Pelayo is the vice-chair.
The next District of Barriere council meeting will be held on February 21 at 7 p.m.