Feature Article September 2, 2004
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Public meeting explores Mountain Grove fire hall optionsby Jule Koch Brison
There were some heated exchanges at the public meeting about replacing the Mountain Grove Fire Hall, which was held on Aug. 30 at the Olden community centre.
Mayor MacDonald and Deputy Mayor Putnam, Councillors Gutowski, Smith, Snyder, and Murray were present, along with about 30 residents
Mayor MacDonald explained at the outset that council had made no decisions or commitments yet; that the meeting was to inform the public about the problems, and to seek input and direction.
The fire department has run out of space for its vehicles and equipment at the present hall, which was built at the old Mountain Grove school. The rescue van is presently left parked outside the hall, which is not good for the van and makes it more difficult for firefighters to respond to emergencies in the winter.
Its a $200,000 van, said deputy fire Chief Art Cowdy, are we just going to let it sit outside and rust?
Concurrently, the township has also run out of storage space for its records. Initially the firefighters were only working on plans to house the emergency vehicles, but in an attempt to plan ahead Council has worked with Director of Emergency Services Mark MacDonald and the firefighters themselves to develop options to also solve the townships storage problems.
Mark MacDonald presented the four options at the meeting:
#1 (described by Mark MacDonald as the least desirable) is to build a 2-bay garage in the front parking lot of the present location.
#2. Add on a 2-bay garage on the front of the current firehall. Extensive remodelling would have to be done to bring the entrance of the building up to present standards.
#3 Build a new 4-bay building on the present location to house the fire hall, library and township data. In the short term the old school could be used for fire & police training. It eventually would be demolished.
#4 Build a new 4-bay building to house everything in a completely new location. The township could utilise the old space or rent it out.
When asked about costs, Mark MacDonald said there were too many variables to give exact figures, but that ball park figures might be $96,000 just for a new 4-bay firehall without incorporating the library and storage space, and between $10-$20,000 to do option #1.
Former Councillor Elva Price commented that $100,000 was a lot to spend; that the old school had been there for 71 years, and many people had worked very hard and maintain to build the fire hall.
However, Arlene Uens said, The location of the present building is an accident waiting to happen. Her main concern was the safety of children in the adjacent Land O Lakes Public School. Also, the present fire hall is too close to the road, and there is no parking for the firefighters trucks.
The township garage on Hwy. 7 was suggested as an alternative site, but Mayor MacDonald said it was full. Art Cowdy objected that it would take firefighters too long to get out the garage, and the other firefighters agreed that they could respond best to emergencies if the fire hall were kept in the village.
Mark MacDonald pointed out that the fire hall in Mountain Grove is the most strategically located one in the township, as it can back up any other department and be there in less than 12 minutes.
Councilor Murray said there needed to be a more long-term plan to address all the needs, but Art Cowdy replied that the firemen have been working on these plans for years. Murray also said that moving the fire hall to Hwy 7 might leave out some people, but would include others. Ian Trickett answered that the population was much lower north of Hwy. 7.
The firefighters have also volunteered to help build a new fire hall, and as the discussion progressed, most of the councillors and attendees agreed that the firefighters should have what they need.
The final suggestion was to move the skating rink and build on that site, and the suggestion seemed to be received favourably by the firefighters. Councillor Murray said he did not like the idea of losing the rink. He said it has been proven that 95% of all heart attacks are preventable and the rink provides exercise. One of the firefighters asked, Are you going to tell a 94-year-old woman with a bad heart shed be healthier if she went skating? No answered Murray. We need to educate the children.
At the end of the meeting, Murray repeated his comment that, In a township like this somebodys going to be left out.
Firefighter Jamie Riddell answered, No they wont. Not if its done right.
Whatever council decides, it is too late in the year now to start building, but council assured the firefighters that the money already set aside in the budget for the project would be kept in reserve and perhaps added to.
Note: From now on, all council meetings in Mountain Grove will be held in the community hall.
