Erickson and Arrow Creek property owners will pay more for fire protection if the Town of Creston borrowing referendum for a new fire hall passes, they were told at a public meeting at Erickson Elementary School on November 7th.
Property owners can now do their own math on the cost of continuing to contract fire protection from the Town of Creston. They have little idea, however, of what the costs might be if they choose to create their own fire service, or even do without one.
“When we evaluate the costs of building a new hall in Erickson, compare them to the cost of the West Creston Fire Hall currently under construction and the recent construction of the Fire Hall built in Kaslo, Erickson could see up to a 2 million capital investment into the hall construction,” Area B Director Tanya Wall said on Monday. “Plus, we need to consider that Erickson has no apparatus, no trucks, no volunteers. Looking at the cost of building, purchasing equipment and training based on other hall operations in the RDCK, with recruitment and retention as our number one hurdle it only makes sense and offers stability to the residents of Area B to negotiate with the Town of Creston to remain in a service contract. Another fact that influences my decision, is that we need to consider investment into our future – building one hall that can support all of our department training needs is critical to the success of all our fire departments in the Valley.”
While Town of Creston voters can have their say in polling booths on December 9th, Erickson residents could see a jump in fire protection costs while only having expressed their opinions. The current bylaw, put in place while Area B was represented by John Kettle, has “enough room to be able to withstand a tax increase of this nature,” according to an RDCK presentation at the meeting.
The current contract for the Creston Fire Department to provide fire protection to Erickson residents expires next month.
The Arrow Creek service bylaw does not have room for the proposed increase, which means elector assent in October 2018 would be required to allow an increase in taxation.
“All of our valley departments are already training together, supporting each other in mutual aid agreements and together we are stronger when an emergency occurs in our community,” Wall said. “The Town of Creston’s new fire hall will also be able to support some of the needs that our other halls currently do not have. We have been working collectively to enhance our fire and emergency response services in our valley and moving towards a Regional Fire Service. Building a new fire hall in the Town of Creston to support those needs is the first step, and a step in the right direction, in my opinion. I also believe that the Town of Creston Council and Staff, have taken the correct approach including other service needs in the building and having those services contribute to the overall capital expenditure.”
Area C Director Larry Binks, said on Monday that he sees little resistance in continuing to contract fire protection services to the Creston Fire Department.
“Once people at last week’s meeting got the facts about building a fire hall, purchasing equipment and training new volunteers I would say the vast majority left with no interest in starting a new service,” he said.
Area C has about 100 properties sprinkled around its perimeter that are protected by the Creston Fire Department.
“I haven’t heard many complaints,” he said. “The Town has done a great job in getting good solid information out there.”
A Yes vote in the Creston’s December referendum would result in an annual increase of $385,000 in principal and interest payments. Of that total, $88,683 annually would be allocated to the Erickson service and $19,088 annually to the Arrow Creek service. Cost of living adjustments would also be made annually. The amount borrowed to build a new fire hall would be reduced in the event that grant applications to available sources at the time are approved.
According to the RDCK calculations, taxation for fire protection on a $400,000 home in Erickson is $260.80 for 2017. That would rise to $350.80 in 2018 if the referendum passes, and then go to $421.19 in 2019 when the fire hall is completed. The two-year increase would be 61.5 percent.
In Arrow Creek, the current tax for fire protection on a $400,000 home is $262. If the borrowing referendum passes, that would jump to $363.60 in 2018 and then to $434.25 in 2019. The two-year increase would be 65.74 percent.
Currently, fire protection costs for Erickson and Arrow Creek are near the low end of the scale for RDCK areas. For a $400,000 home, North Shore residents pay $149.20 in 2017; Riondel residents pay $510.80; residents with Blewett fire protection pay $234.40; Blewett residents served by Nelson pay $286.80; Wynndel residents pay $411.20; Canyon-Lister residents pay $376.80, and Kaslo residents pay $330.
The Town of Creston and RDCK are currently discussing the concept of a sub-regional fire service that would make fire halls in Yahk, Canyon-Lister and Wynndel-Lakeview satellites of the Creston Fire Department. Under that concept, fire protection from Yahk to Wynndel would be operated by the Town of Creston. Discussions and research are ongoing, the meeting was told.
If Erickson and Arrow Creek residents were to go without fire protection they would have lower taxes but higher insurance rates, which are impossible to calculate. Construction of a fire hall in Erickson to serve the two areas would require building costs, the purchase of apparatus including specialized trucks, and a roster of at least 15 trained volunteers.
“Recruitment and retention is one of the more difficult aspects of the RDCK fire service,” according to the presentation.
