The City of Fernie has unveiled the design and cost of the upcoming firehall.
The building includes space for operations as well as quiet spaces, fitness room, and rest areas to support firefighters.
The design also includes a multi-purpose room that the community will be able to utilize as well.
“The facility includes a multi-purpose room which will be a community asset. It would be used for training at least once a week by the fire department, but also accessible and bookable by the community as an events and gathering space,” said engineering and public works director Jenny Weir.
“It’s a cost effective design with durable building materials fit for purpose finishings and easy to clean surfaces.”
The full designs can be found here.
The total project cost is expected to be $15,901,750.
The city is hopeful they’ll be successful in getting a Canada Community Building Fund grant worth $7 million.
If they get the grant the city would only have to borrow 3.5 million as they have other funding already set aside.
A referendum will take place this fall to approve the borrowing but it will have to be for the amount of $12 million, since the grant funding won’t be finalized until early 2026.
A draft Loan Authorization Bylaw will be up for council adoption later this month.
If the referendum passes this fall, the city is hoping to have construction start in the spring of 2025 and have the firehall up and running in 2027.
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