To the editor:
Citizens of Thunder Bay should be made aware of the conditions on the interest bearing loan of $572,040 that was made to the Thunder Bay Region Protective Emergency Services Training Facility Corporation.
Is Mr. Greg Alexander, the city’s manager of community and emergency services, not aware that in 2008 when TBRPESTC was advanced the $572,040 loan with interest, the city treasurer was to ensure the following financial controls were implemented and enforced:
- The Fire Chief (or designate) will be the ‘Manager’ of the site.
- Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue Service (TBFRS) shall maintain an on-going budget and prepare an annual budget for submission to, and approval of, the TBRPESTC.
- The budget shall address operational costs, loan repayment and capital requirements, including reserves for future Asset Management.
- It will be the duty of TBFRS to solicit, schedule and provide agreements or contracts for year round use of the training facility.
These financial controls apparently had such stellar results that the training centre’s financial situation are best described as muddied by Mr. Greg Alexander.
It makes one question the decision by Mr. Greg Alexander, why anyone in their right mind, would allow the Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue chief to handle the training centre including operations and future upgrading, when the city takes it over, in light of the information above.
Or why council would approve of having the title of the training center transferred to the city after the city’s financial controls proved so ineffective.
Henry Wojak,
Thunder?Bay
