MANITOWANING—Despite concerns raised by a couple of Assiginack Township councillors that the proposed location for a new fire hall is not the best, council at a committee of the whole meeting last week passed a motion to confirm the design for the building obtained in 2018 is valid and up to the building code, get an estimated construction cost and proceed with getting a tender for a new fire hall.
“I don’t expect this will be a popular issue to raise this evening, but we have been dealing with this issue for six years and are currently stuck in the same position,” said CAO Alton Hobbs. “We know we can’t continue with the existing arrangement with the fire department taking up a portion of the township public works department building.”
Mr. Hobbs pointed out, “some Island municipalities with a volunteer fire department have opened new fire halls recently. I’m going to give council a quick and dirty history of where we are currently and how we got there.”
“We all know about the issues with the fire hall (including mold in the building) and the council (during the 2014-2018 term) had hired Tulloch Engineer to look at the current fire hall, sharing space with existing sites on the highway and other property the township owns, and a new fire hall,” said Mr. Hobbs. “If my memory serves me correctly, a new fire hall had been estimated to cost $800,000. However, the lowest tender for construction was $1.2 million.”
The present public works building is not big enough to house both the fire department and public works department, and there are issues with servicing two separate buildings on the property as there is only one water line feeding the property, as well as it being on a field bed on private property, council was told. Council then looked at the option of a new fire hall location and felt it should be constructed at the corner of Vankoughnet and Arthur streets. He explained when the previous council had tendered for this new building being constructed, the tenders came in 60 percent higher than had been anticipated, so it was shelved.
“For the last six years council has discussed this issue, but nothing concrete has taken place,” said Mr. Hobbs. “And it doesn’t seem there is any current government funding out there for fire halls. As a taxpayer in the township, I don’t want to pay for new infrastructure either, but the current situation can’t continue. This will have to be looked at in the 2025 budget.”
It was pointed out by Mayor Brenda Reid that because the public works building is served by a residential water system, having two separate buildings on the one location would require a new watermain system put in, which would bring with it a significant expense.
“Everything is ready, the design for the building is ready and we could go to tender tomorrow,” said Mayor Reid.
“This all started in the 1990 budget deliberations,” said Councillor Dwayne Elliott. “The fire chief had been asked for a 20-year plan for the fire department.”
Mr. Elliott said, “the fire department has $460,000 in reserves toward the new building. In the 2025 budget we will be asking for the $125,000 proceeds from the (township) selling of the building on 115 Arthur Street for the new fire hall.” He also pointed out there are a couple different funding programs that could be applied for that would provide about $100,000 in funding if approved. “So, in total there is about $685,000 in resources currently that could be put forward toward construction of a new firehall. I think we are right there to go get the estimated costs and tender for the building to be constructed.”
However, Councillor Rob Maguire said the township is not financially there without knowing what the current tenders for the building are. He pointed out as well the area proposed for the new fire hall (which is close to the Manitowaning arena) is in an area, “that has never been used except for recreational activity purposes.”
“We can’t add on to the public works building because the structure is not large enough and there is the issue with the water line,” said Mayor Reid.
“How long are we going to spin our wheels on this issue,” said Councillor Elliott. “We have a plan in place, and we have a fire certification soon and need to have training take place as well as having a plan in place.” As for taking away from recreational space, the area being looked at for the new firehall, “has not been used for the past 20 years.”
Council has inquired several times, including just two months ago, about purchasing the former Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) building in Manitowaning, said Mayor Reid. “Infrastructure Ontario will not sell the building to us.”
“This would solve a number of things by having the fire hall in the OPP building,” said Councillor Maguire.
“I don’t disagree but Infrastructure Ontario won’t sell the building to the township,” said Mayor Reid. She cautioned, “local residents don’t want to see what will happen if we don’t have a fire department. For one thing everyone’s insurance would increase substantially.”
“We looked at other areas of town and decided that the land for a new fire hall had to be on property we own,” said Mayor Reid.
Councillor Janice Bowerman said that the proposed location would not be the best for the fire hall. However, “since we can’t add on to the public works building it is our only choice. I agree that if we don’t have a fire department and fire hall our insurance would definitely go up. I think as much as the proposed location is not perfect it is the only alternative we have.”
“I think we should make another pitch to the government about the OPP building, indicating what our plans are for it,” said Councillor Maguire.
“Do you not think I didn’t tell them (Infrastructure Ontario) all the things that we need? We have done our due diligence, and they are not interested in selling the (OPP) building to us,” said Mayor Reid.
“I disagree with the proposed new location,” stated Councillor Jennifer Hooper. “But I agree it is the only option. Since I have been on council we have looked at three major issues, the dumpsite, the arts and entertainment centre and the firehall. We have to look at getting a fire hall built. It is the most important issue for our township and taxpayers. I don’t agree with the proposed location for a multitude of reasons, but we need to get on with this and get the fire hall built.”
Mr. Hobbs noted that the township staff has been in contact with Infrastructure Ontario as well, and the latter has not been providing any answers to the township questions.
A recommendation was passed by the committee of council to move forward toward getting costing and tenders for a new fire hall. A formal motion will be considered by council at its next regular meeting on November 19.
