New Amherstburg fire station to be located at the Libro Centre

Options to continue a three-station deployment and renovate all three-stations was the second most expensive option and may not work, Montone said, while consolidating and building one new station and renovating the other was the most expensive option and may not work.

The option council chose included a second new station, which would go at the site of Station 2 (Anderdon), but that station likely will have to wait for several years.

Montone said the previous council was presented with three-station and two-station options, which he said would both protect the community. The three-station model would require the hiring of 20 more volunteer firefighters and see annual operating costs increase by $250,000 while no hires are required with the two-station model and firefighters would be shifted thus leading to improved response time and allow for more firefighters to attend calls in a quicker manner.

The revised design led to savings of $837,650 with Montone stating the alterations included a different locker room design and an asphalt roof instead of a metal roof.

Councillor Don McArthur asked Montone to explain how residents in the former Malden Township would be protected, as it appears to residents it would take longer to arrive there due to a fire hall being pulled from the area. Montone said it would take six minutes to get from the Libro Centre to Malden Centre, and added that having a fire hall across the road doesn’t necessarily mean a quicker response as firefighters aren’t there all the time. He noted the town currently does not meet its service targets but believed it would under the proposed new model which includes the new station at the Libro Centre.

Firefighters would be able to bring their gear with them and/or have the truck meet them at the scene of a fire, he noted. The Libro Centre station would also be close to the core of town to protect it as well.

Montone said there are showers at Station 2 that were installed at a cost of $80,000 but Station 3 has little room.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb asked if a station could be built in Malden down the road if a need was found to be there, with CAO Valerie Critchley saying council has that option if they choose to devote the resources.

Councillor Peter Courtney was more skeptical, saying firefighters who arrive before the truck wouldn’t be able to do much. He believed the level of service would be diminished in Malden, adding he didn’t feel enough work went into studying combining a fire hall with a new town hall as the latter won’t be compliant with accessibility legislation before the 2025 requirement.

“Our job is to make the best business decision possible,” said Courtney. “What’s the game plan for town hall?”

Critchley said the town is embarking on a spacial needs study that will look at such things as where amenities like a town hall could go, but noted that wouldn’t be completed until likely next year.

“We’re some time away from getting that done,” she said.

The design was also questioned by Courtney, noting “I’m looking for functionality” and that the fire hall was not “a tourist destination.” He said Essex spent $3.4 million on a new fire station a few years ago and compared the proposed design of the new Amherstburg fire station to a “ski chalet.”

Courtney suggested deferring the matter until the spacial needs study was complete.

“I’m voting no, no, no,” he said.

Councillor Molly Allaire didn’t believe it made sense to go down to two fire stations from three when the town has 185 square kilometres to cover. Councillor Diane Pouget agreed with Courtney the town has to consider a new town hall as well.

“I believe the people in Malden are being shortchanged,” she added. “They should have the same protection as anyone else in Amherstburg.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re getting a new fire hall tonight,” said Gibb. “We’ll start on the second one down the road.”

McArthur believed it made little sense to consider anything but a new fire hall.

“I don’t think you can read the report and come away with another conclusion other than we need a new fire hall,” said McArthur. “You can reach no other conclusion that we need a new fire hall.”

Noting he voted for the two-station model the previous term of council, McArthur added he was confident the community would be protected. He said there is “good debt” and “bad debt” and the new fire hall aligns with the former.

Mayor Michael Prue stated he preferred the threestation proposal the last term of council, but “we’ve progressed since then.” He hoped a proposed 30-year repayment plan would be shortened and asked that debt start to be paid back down before embarking on the second new fire hall in Anderdon.

“This is going to be good debt but it makes no sense to pile on debt,” said Prue.

Councillor Linden Crain believed response times would not be diminished in any area of town and that a new fire hall was “an immediate need.” Three-stations would carry increased costs, he added.

“I think we need to move forward and stop waiting and make sure the community is protected,” said Crain. Voting in favour were Prue, McArthur, Crain and Gibb while Pouget, Allaire and Courtney were opposed.