Council supports $763,000 fire hall expansion - with lower cost possible

by Kris Svela

HARRISTON

Minto council has given the green light to an expansion of the Minto Fire Department’s Harriston station.

Fire Chief Chris Harrow presented  council with a report on the work on Monday, including an estimate cost of $763,000, including engineering work. However, the chief is hoping once drawings are sent to tender, that figure could be lower.  

Sending the plan to tender was suggested by engineering firm Gamsby and Mannerow Limited, which will oversee the project.

“What the engineer is suggesting is we send this to tender to give us an actual cost estimate,” the chief said. “They’ve seen a lot of  projects come in below estimates.”

The expansion would see a second floor added for additional office space and new storage for bunker gear.

Harrow said bunker gear is currently stored in truck bays and there is a concern that diesel fumes from the trucks could present a health hazard when firefighters put on their gear. There are currently 28 bunker stalls, but the plan would see places for 35 stalls to accommodate a growing firefighter contingent expected in the future.

“The first step will be to finalize the drawings and send them out to tender,” Harrow said of the procedure.

Council was told it could then decide on a final floor plan and determine if the cost can be handled by the town.

Drawings of the exterior of the building show the fire hall will fit in with the facades of the newly-renovated library, which will officially open on June 28, as well as the nearby old town hall.

“There’s a big need here for this if we can make the department more efficient,” Mayor George Bridge said of the plan. “I think it’s time to get the ball on the ground and move with it.”

Harrow said if the work proceeds it will not interrupt the operation of the current fire hall. “The bays won’t be touched,” he said.

In a related matter, council also approved an upgrade to insurance coverage for its firefighters when they are on active duty.  The new policy would see Minto’s 85 firefighters with coverage of $150,000 for life insurance, up from the previous $100,000, and improved disability coverage at $500 a week for the first four weeks of disability and $1,000 a week thereafter, plus dependent and spousal benefits.

The new policy has an annual premium of $6,916 or about $2,198 above what the town pays now.

June 22, 2012