Despite misgivings from at least one councillor, town council has agreed to proceed with negotiations to purchase property in northern Hillsburgh for a new fire hall.
Fire Chief Dan Callaghan and hall committee chairman Steve Ballantyne told council last week the site at the north end of the village atop the hill on the west side of Trafalgar Road remains their first choice for a new building.
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 also not large enough to house a new building and allow for parking.
Ballantyne explained the preferred site, two acres in size and privately owned, is located right where the Hillsburgh entrance sign currently sits.
He said the location is “high and dry” – several other choices are in a flood plain – will provide good visibility for the entrance and will also help with fast response times in Hillsburgh.
The site will provide ample room for the building and parking, although the town could negotiate for a larger piece of land if it wants, Ballantyne added. He also noted the site is close to future development and is an ideal location for a communication tower.
But councillor Barb Tocher said she is concerned about the location for two reasons.
“I object to spending $220,000 to $250,000 for a piece of land when the [other possible locations] are town-owned,” Tocher said.
She also cited the climate changes at the top of the hill on Trafalgar, with that section of the road closed from time to time in the winter due to poor traction and visibility.
She suggested the site of the municipal office on Trafalgar Road, just south of the village, would be a better choice. Ballantyne said the real issue with that location is response times, which would be upwards of 10 minutes.
He added 80% of the station’s calls are north of that location, and placing the station there would mean firefighters traveling twice through a stoplight (at County Road 22) and a school zone (Ross R. MacKay Public School).
In addressing concerns about winter road conditions, Ballantyne said the town is better having the hall atop a hill, which means most firefighters will be travelling up the hill in their own vehicles, which is likely easier than using a large fire truck.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said she was not as concerned about winter conditions as she was about the tendency of southbound drivers to speed over the hill on their way into the village.
She wondered if a flashing warning light is needed to provide motorists with ample warning of the fire hall entrance.
Callaghan told councillors it is important to base their decision not just on the current situation, but also on what will happen up to 40 years from now.
“The last thing that we want to do is think about today,” he said, noting the north-end location perfectly suits future development.
Tocher replied the village will grow to the south as well. She suggested the fire department approach officials in East Garafraxa, with whom the town has a fire protection contract, and ask for a capital investment from them up front. She thinks that municipality did something similar for Grand Valley.
Despite their concerns, councillors voted unanimously to proceed with land purchase negotiations with the private owner of the fire department’s preferred site.
