Council for the RM of Hanover has decided to pursue plans for a fourth fire hall to be built in the municipality.

Reeve Stan Toews says they would like to construct a hall in the new commercial zone in Blumenort, south of Granny's. Toews notes Blumenort was chosen because there is a lot of commercial assessment there.

"There's a lot of businesses there, where we hope we can draw volunteer firefighters from," explains Toews. "And there was quite a push from the community that they wanted to see a fire hall."

If constructed, Toews says the hall will probably be similar in size to the one in Grunthal. He expects about fifteen volunteer firefighters and says the cost to build the hall, purchase equipment and train firefighters will be about $2.6 million.

Hanover is paying approximately $252,000 this year to Steinbach for fire protection. Once the hall is up and running, the only area in Hanover that would be serviced by Steinbach would be around Friedensfeld. Toews says the cost to construct the hall will be funded mostly from money saved from reduced fire protection costs going to Steinbach. There would also be a borrowing bylaw, which would be paid by all ratepayers in Hanover.

"It's not a done deal," says Toews. "Next we have to go to the community and see how much support there is."

He says it is still a lengthy process before they can put shovel in the ground. According to Toews, it could be the middle of 2019 before that hall is fully certified and has been signed off by the Fire Commissioner.

Mitchell Councillor Bernie Stahn was the lone Councillor to vote against this plan. Once the Blumenort hall is up and running, the community of Mitchell will be protected by Kleefeld Fire Department. However, Hanover Council has committed to reviewing the fire protection area in and around Mitchell within the next five years.