As Lake Country continues to grow, so does the need for a new firehall.
The district’s current hall on Okanagan Centre Road East is in need of major repairs and renovating the hall is not a viable option as it was built to accommodate a small staff, according to a report which will be presented during next week’s regular council meeting.
The current hall has a lack of showers and decontamination facilities, as well as limited space for equipment storage, maintenance, training, administrative offices, parking and vehicle manoeuvring space, the report said.
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The district is looking to borrow $6.6 million from the Municipal Finance Authority of B.C. to fund the construction of a new hall at 11063 Okanagan Centre Road East.
The total cost of the project would be $9 million, which would be funded from the sale of the existing firehall, using reserve funding and from long-term debt financing.
If approved by council, the loan authorization bylaw will head to a referendum. A referendum to borrow money to build a new hall was narrowly defeated by residents in 2008.
“The 2018 average residential dwelling valued at $656,000 would see an increase of approximately $90 per year” for 20 years, the report said.
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