Armstrong and Spallumcheen’s fire hall will get improvements.
The city and township have approved recommendations from a joint council meeting regarding the process leading to improvements and a bay expansion for the fire hall, located in Armstrong.
The general recommendations were contained in a fire service review which proposed that improvements were needed to provide an additional bay for the new truck to allow for safe storage, maintenance of all apparatus, as well as contemporary facilities for training and other activities.
Improvements will be done in two phases.
“I fully support moving forward into phase one of this two-stage process leading to a safer, better facility for our valued firefighters who provide our two communities with an outstanding public safety service in a very cost effective way,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Janice Brown.
“I support our fire department having what they need to respond for our community.”
Phase one will include a review of the fire hall project to date including preliminary plans prepared by the architect.
There will be a preparation of preliminary budget for the plans, recommendations for plan improvements using the knowledge of fire hall construction and renovations, as well as opportunities to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.
An updated preliminary budget based on that analysis will be prepared, as will a preliminary schedule for design and construction and a review of preconstruction planning, design and construction options.
Phase one is expected to be completed within eight-to-10 weeks at which point joint councils will determine the next steps.
The firm of Liberty Contract Management, which has extensive experience in such fire hall projects, was recommended by the fire review consultants and have been selected to undertake the first phase of the project with a budget of $13,000.
