Fernie City council has approved a loan authorization bylaw to fund the new firehall.
The highly contentious firehall saga is coming to a close after months of discussions and heated feedback from the public.
The main point of concern has been the location, which will be on a portion of Prentice Park.
Mayor Nic Milligan says these are the tough decisions council has been elected to oversee and people’s concerns were taken into account.
“We can potentially build a fire hall for $3.6 million and we were elected to show leadership and popular or unpopular sometimes it feels like the real leadership decisions are unpopular,” he said.
“Hearing people’s voices does not necessarily mean agreeing with what they are proposing. It doesn’t mean we haven’t heard them or haven’t listened. We have listened and I’ve lost a lot of sleep over this.”
Councillor Ted Shoesmith wasn’t in favour of the project as it stands but says he was tempted to vote in favour due to the vitriol directed towards council.
“I’ve got people telling me friends off if you vote this way or that way or we’re going to turn you down in the store if you vote this way or that way. It’s an immense amount of pressure, judgement and scorn being leveled at me and I’m not really happy with any of that,” he said.
“In fact when people try to pressure me in that manner it makes me want to vote against them just to spite them.”
Milligan, councillors Troy Nixon, Kevin McIssac and Kyle Hamilton voted in favour, while councillor Shoesmith and Harsh Ramadass voted against.
Councillor Tracy Audia Kelly abstained.
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, but the approved loan bylaw is for $12 million as a back up.
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