Leap of faith

A conceptual rendering of the proposed new fire hall in Consecon. The cost to build the station is estimated at about $1.3 million.

Councillors haltingly take next step toward a new fire hall in Consecon

Councillors threw cold water on a plan to build a new firehall in Consecon last week at Shire Hall. The plan would see a pair of aging halls (Consecon and Hillier ) replaced by one new station.

Though council agreed in principle more than a year ago to proceed with development of the new firehall in Consecon, it was, and is, divided about what to do in Picton. There, one plan calls for the elimination of stations in Picton, Bloomfield and on the Heights, to be replaced by a single firehall and administration building near the traffic circle at Waring’s Corners. This is known as the nine-station plan.

But several councillors have long objected to the closing of the Heights station unless it is replaced. They say that it leaves many North Marysburgh residents too far away from fire services. They prefer a 10-station plan in which the Bloomfield station is maintained, and the Heights’ station is rebuilt as an eightbay firehall and administration centre.

While the debate over the competing plans wasn’t intended to be part of discussion at council’s committee meeting last week—it became a dominant theme nevertheless, threatening to derail the entire process.

Municipal staff had hoped it might sidestep the trouble by setting to work on the Consecon proposal—as it appeared to enjoy widespread approval.

The firehall in Hillier is in very poor condition. Closing it and the older hall in Consecon, and replacing them with a four-bay station and training facility had most of council in agreement earlier this year. The estimated cost of $1.3 million seemed doable.

Yet when asked to pick a firm to design and prepare tender documents for development the hall last week— many on council balked. They were led by Robert Quaiff, councillor for North Marysburgh.

Quaiff opposes the nine-station plan that puts a large 12-bay fire hall and administration building on the far side of Picton from his ward. He has been assured many times that a decision has not been made between the options—but he feels he is being squeezed into making a bad decision.

“I feel I’ve been led down a path,” said Quaiff. “I thought we had final say about the direction we intend to take. Now I am being asked to approve the Consecon hall. Can we afford to build this station?”

Councillor Jamie Forrester picked up the thread.

“At what point do we halt and find out how much this plan will cost?” said Forrester.

Now, council has had cost estimates for Consecon and its nine and 10-station plans for more than a year. While there are certainly questions about taxpayers ability to cover the estimated $5 million price tag, councillors are surely aware of how much each plan is esimated to cost.

But the issue isn’t cost, at least not yet. The issue is about who is going to win in the tug-of-war over where the new station is built in Picton. And while, on paper, it doesn’t change the picture for Consecon, council seems unable to separate the issues.

Chief Administrative Officer Merlin Dewing attempted to clarify the issue.

“This is the next step to be taken toward a new station in Consecon,” said Dewing. “Whether you choose a nine-station or a 10-station plan is still up in the air. In either scenario Consecon is to be replaced. If you now don’t want to build a station in Consecon, now is the time to pull the plug.”

The discussion then veered into a debate over how the municipality intends to develop the Consecon hall. The current plan will see one firm design and develop technical specifications upon which other firms will bid for the right to build the firehall.

Councillor Nick Nowitski wants to eliminate the middleman. He believes there are other four-bay fire halls that can be copied and built here without paying for the services of a consultant.

But Dewing pointed out that building a firehall is different than going and buying a car.

“You don’t see a car you like and then go home and build it,” said Dewing. “We know what we want to build. But we need experts to design it and develop the technical specifications.”

But Quaiff couldn’t shake the feeling that making a decision on the Consecon hall would foreclose the options related to the Waring’s Corners or the Heights.

“This is not the right process,” he complained. “We are putting the cart before the horse. We have to spend money before we know what it will cost.”

Dewing tried to assure Quaiff that the issues were separate.

“We are astute enough to know the station by the traffic circle has become a political issue that likely won’t be solved this term of council.Or it may never happen. You will be debating nine or 10 stations much of 2014,” predicted Dewing. “Consecon station is in obvious need. It is something that could be done without dealing with the political hot potato.”

Dewing promised to bring back revised financial estimate for the Consecon station in time for the next council meeting. With that assurance, council gave its tentative blessing to hire Colbourne and Kembel Architects to design the Consecon firehall.