The RM of La Broquerie is one step closer to getting its new fire hall. Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to move ahead with the project.

Last year, the municipality spent roughly $90,000 on a parcel of land in between the communities of La Broquerie and Marchand. The location was strategically chosen by the fire department as it offers them quick access to both populated areas and decreases the cost of home insurance for a larger number of residents.

Deputy Reeve Ivan Normandeau says his council had also budgeted to start building the hall in 2020 but deferred that project to this year. During their most recent meeting, the wheels began turning again.

“We are appointing our building inspector to move forward with getting plans and designs so we can start getting costs and see if this will fall within budget,” explains Normandeau.

The RM has budgeted to borrow up to $1,255,000 to construct the hall. If the cost analysis comes back favourable, Normandeau says shovels could be in the ground as early as this spring or summer.

To Fire Chief Alain Nadeau, there could not be better news.

“This is really nice to hear and it means a lot,” he remarks. “We’ve been waiting quite a few years for this and finally it looks like it is going to be coming to fruition.”

Nadeau says a new headquarters is essential as his fleet has outgrown their current facility, just west of La Broquerie.

“It is getting very tight in there,” he offers. “Even for meetings nowadays, we have to make different arrangements because it is not large enough for all of us to be social distancing.”

In the spirit of research and development, the chief and some of his fellow firefighters have been hall shopping in recent days. Nadeau says they have toured across many parts of the province to determine what sort of features they want in their new build.

“There are beautiful halls all around,” he says, “but we are going to build something that is practical, we are not going to go overboard on this. As long as it has about six stalls, keeps the trucks warm, and has a good boardroom and training area, then it’s great.”

Nadeau opted not to say which hall he is hoping to model his new facility after, preferring to keep it a surprise.