Trent Lakes Council directed Municipal Staff to move forward with plans to construct a new Buckhorn Fire Station and Public Works Depot.
This building is included in the municipality’s approved Facility Master Plan.
In November 2023 council awarded a contract to design the building to the Greer Galloway Group.
This week they presented council with a “30 percent” design which is a high level report intended to give council an idea of what is planned and get direction on whether they are headed in the right direction.
The cost estimate provided to council was $12.55 million which includes site work and demolition of the existing buildings.
Deputy Mayor Carol Armstrong said that the working group for this building had asked for five fire bays and four public works bays, and she asked why the early plans include six fire bays and five public works bays.
Fire Chief Steve Brockbank told council that there have been early discussions with Peterborough County about sharing space so that an ambulance could operate out of the facility.
Mayor Terry Lambshead said that there is an ambulance in Trent Lakes in the summer months, and if this could be increased to a year round presence it would benefit taxpayers.
Evan Grieger, Director of Public Works, told council that there are currently five bays for public works and all of them are full.
“This is remaining with the status quo,” he said.
Armstrong asked if costs could be reduced. The consultant said there are many features that are legally required for health and safety reasons, particularly dealing with the fire equipment.
He said at this point the company needs some direction on what council wants to spend on the building.
“It’s like you’ve gone car shopping, you’ve asked for a car but have not made decision about the price,” he said. “If you feel this cost is too high, let’s stop the design process until you can give us more direction.”
Councillor Peter Franzen said he would prefer seeing one project (the 49 depot) completed before council embarks on the next.
“I’d like to defer this decision to the fall,” he said. “Let’s wait to see what the costs are for the 49 facility first.”
Armstrong said there is a sense of urgency and this build cannot wait.
“Time is not something we should be playing with,” she added. “Let’s make sure this design meets the needs of the two departments and move forward.”
Council voted to receive the report and directed staff to move forward with the project.
