Meaford council has approved the construction of a new fire hall

The proposed new fire hall was a major topic of discussion at special budget meetings held by council last Wednesday and Monday evenings. At the first meeting financial consultant David Creech presented council with a proposed capital budget for 2008.

The capital budget includes the construction of a new fire hall. A new hall has been proposed in past budgets, but actual construction has never gone ahead for a variety of reasons.

"We're the only department in Ontario that doesn't have a fire hall," explained Fire Chief Steve Nickels. "It's been in the budget for a couple years, but this year it has no impact on taxation," said the chief.

The fire hall is expected to cost the municipality $705,000, however,  Nickels and Creech have found the money for the project without needing a single dollar from 2008 taxes.

The capital budget proposed that the fire hall be paid for out of a variety of specific fire department reserve funds including development charges, deferred revenue for the department discovered on the books and money left over from the dissolution of the former fire board.

The break down for funding is as follows: reserves - $348,000, development charges - $109,000, deferred revenue - $70,000 and the fire board remaining balance - $178,000.

"This is very good news," said Mayor Francis Richardson, after hearing the proposal to get a major project completed without requiring support from the 2008 taxation budget. Both the Mayor and Chief Nickels were crystal clear that the municipality is not, under any circumstances, selling the old fire hall building next to Meaford Hall.

A new fire hall is desperately needed. The fire department has been without an adequate home since it was forced to vacant the old Fire Hall next to Meaford Hall during the renovation project. Since that time the fire department has been housed at a public works garage on Stewart Street.

The garage has no office facilities, it has no shower facilities, it has no training facilities and the temperature in the building during the winter is barely adequate. It was meant to be a temporary solution during the renovation of Meaford Hall. The gear fire fighters wear to calls is stored out in the open.

"It's really a storage facility," Nickels said at Wednesday's meeting. The current building housing the fire department was meant to be a temporary solution that has now stretched over a period of years.

Most members of council were prepared to give the go ahead to the project at Wednesday's meeting in order to get the shovel in the ground immediately, but waited until another budget meeting Monday afternoon, to pass a resolution to support the new fire hall project.

The majority of councillors indicated approval of the project, but some members were still reluctant to go ahead.

"We have a good fire hall now. We need to use those reserves to pay off our debts first," said councillor Gerald Shortt.

Councillor Jim McPherson also said he had issues with rushing the approval of the project.

"I want a new Fire Hall, but we need to see the big picture (financially) before saying yes," he said.

At Monday evening's meeting the Fire Hall received official approval from council in a 6-1 recorded vote. Only councillor Shortt voted against the proposal.

"This is more than past due. I know people were concerned about the impact on taxes, but there isn't one," commented councillor Cynthia Lemon.

Chief Nickels was very happy to have approval for his department's new home.

"We're going to have 24 happy firefighters," said Nickels, noting that the community has been discussing a new Fire Hall since 1984.