The Fire Chief for Hanover says planning for a fire hall in Blumenort has reached the next phase.

This week, council passed a resolution directing Administration to prepare a General Borrowing Bylaw with the total cost not to exceed $2,975,000.

"We feel that this is something we can work under," says Paul Wiebe. "This will include the building of the fire hall and equipping it as well, as well as training and outfitting our firefighters."

(Drawing of Blumenort fire hall)Hanover Reeve Stan Toews says the project will be funded through Reserves, Gas Tax money and the rest will be borrowed. He notes it will be a municipal-wide Borrowing Bylaw, as is the norm for these projects in Hanover.

This week, Wiebe was also authorized to begin the hiring and training process. According to Wiebe, they have received 34 applications and only want to start with 20 firefighters. Wiebe says they have all been interviewed and have undergone a physical assessment. He expects to complete the hiring in the next month in order to begin training this fall. By early spring, 2018, Wiebe says they should have Level 1 training.

"Even though they won't have a functioning fire hall for awhile we would like to get them involved in responding to calls with some of our other fire halls and get them some experience and some ongoing training before we actually open," explains Wiebe.

Also this week, Council voted in favour of a Design - Build construction project delivery system. That means one tender will be offered for the entire project consisting of a single contract for all design and construction services. Wiebe is hoping they can get their request for proposals done by fall and then after that proceed to the tendering process.

Not only does the fire hall need to be tendered, but so does the equipment. He hopes to have equipment tenders awarded in early 2018, in order to take delivery 11 or 12 months later.

The plan is to build the hall along Penner Drive, south of Granny's. Wiebe says he is hoping to begin construction next spring, in order to open in mid-2019.

"Once we make the decision to accept some tenders and start building, putting shovel in the ground we'll kind of be the point of no return," says Wiebe. "I feel we're heading in the right direction and this will happen."

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