Fire department officials have eliminated another potential site for a new hall, leaving the west side of Trafalgar Road, just north of Hillsburgh, as the preferred location.
The town is looking to replace Station 50, on Station Street in Hillsburgh, which was built in 1970 but no longer meets Building Code requirements for parking. The property is not large enough for a new building and to allow parking.
Having previously ruled out the municipal office land as a possible location, a fire hall committee presented council with two options in March: the Trafalgar Road location or on land across the road from the existing hall on Station Street.
But last week Fire Chief Steve Goode said further investigation revealed there are access issues with the latter location, not to mention flooding concerns tied to a small lake on the property. As such, Goode said its probably best not to waste money on engineering reports for the Station Street location.
The owner of the Trafalgar Road land seems to be in favour of selling the 4.6-acre parcel, Goode said, recommending the town proceed with a land appraisal, which is expected to cost about $2,500.
Goode noted that Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott told him there are likely more infrastructure grants yet to be announced, so the new fire hall should be “shovel ready” for when that time comes.
Given that the town has already approved $25,000 in the 2009 budget for hall design and engineering costs, council verbally agreed to proceed with the land appraisal.
