The Edgewood volunteer fire department’s plan to build a new fire hall this fall has hit a snag.
The fire chief says unexpected red tape is driving the project over budget.
“Our building has to have the designation of a ‘post-disaster building’ in the event of an earthquake or horrible disaster,” said Linda McNutt. “The new fire hall would be the last building standing and a congregation point for the folks in Edgewood.”
That designation’s forced the volunteers to hire an architect to do drawings for the building and to have a geotechnical study done.
“Some of those expenses are just going to make it impossible to complete the project,” she said.
The geotechnical study is necessary for any new construction in that part of Edgewood, which lies on a floodplain. But the extra steps will cost the fire department $16,500 before they even turn the sod on the project.
“It’s taken a huge chunk out of our building fund,” says McNutt. “We’re going to find ourselves short of money.”
The volunteer department got a boost this fall when the local Legion donated a plot of land in the community. That donation, along with $165,000 from the Regional District of Central Kootenay, made the dream of a new fire hall for their new fire truck a reality. The fire hall was also going to be hooked up to town water, and have a meeting room.
The volunteers are now trying to decide what parts of the project to cut.
“We may still get the building up, but we’re not certain now we’ll be able to pour the concrete floor, hook up the electrical or have water service,” she said. “We were quite prepared to do the interior framing work ourselves, with volunteer labour. Now I’m not certain we’ll have money to even buy the framing supplies.”
“We have to have heat if we’re going to have an expensive fire truck in there with water in it. The building has to be heated.”
Even something as basic as a washroom in the fire hall is now doubtful.
“I guess septic and what-not is not a priority,” says McNutt. “We can make alternative arrangements for a couple of years until we can find the money.”
McNutt says they’ll still try to meet a self-imposed deadline for building the fire hall, but a lot of wind has been taken out of the volunteer’s sails.
“It’s discouraging. We for sure thought we’d have the fire hall up by year’s end,” she said.
“I’m going to be looking for alternative ways to fundraise, but it’s extremely difficult in a small community to fundraise the kind of dollars that we’re talking about now. “
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