Three emails about new Fire Hall

Here is the text of the three emails from PRRD Services Manager Mike Wall, copied from the Lasqueti Trust Committee agenda package:

From: Mike Wall [mike [dot] wall [at] powellriverrd [dot] bc [dot] ca]

Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 4:32 PM

To: Susan Morrison; Tim Peterson, Ross Thompson

Subject: letter of support request

Hi Tim and Susan.

Hi Ross

The Powell River Regional District is applying for Grant Funding through the Building Canada Fund for four separate initiatives in 2015.

On behalf of the Regional District and the communities these projects positively affect I would like to request your written support for one of the grant applications.

Lasqueti Fire Hall

This project meets the goals of the Small Communities Fund’s Disaster Mitigation Infrastructure objectives by reconstructing the community’s most important public emergency asset – the main fire hall. All residents and visitors on Lasqueti will benefit from this project by improved emergency response. The Lasqueti Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) provides fire protection, rescue, first responder medical services, and is the community’s only local emergency service as there is no police or ambulance service on the island. Given the island’s isolation the construction of an adequate fire hall will contribute toward building a stronger, more resilient community.

If you have any questions please call or email me. The timing for the letter of support as the deadline for grant application is early next week and I would require the letter digitally by this Friday afternoon. The letter can be reflective of the description above and any other comments you may have. Thank you in advance and I apologize for the very short timeline.

Thank you

Mike Wall, RFT

Manager of Community Services

From: Mike Wall [mailto:mike [dot] wall [at] powellriverrd [dot] bc [dot] ca]

Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 12:24 PM

To: Marnie Eggen

Subject: RE: letter of support request

The importance of letters of support to these Building Canada Fund Application was just

recently made apparent to us and we are doing are best to secure some from influential

government bodies and officials.

As discussed

- This project is not affordable to the community without grant funding.

- The total cost identified in the application for the project is approximately $1,000,000 and the grant will provide 2/3 rds of the funding with the remainder being supplied through the regional service budget

- The new building is planned for the existing site after the recycling and free store have been moved and the old hall has been taken down (with repurposing of materials a priority)

- The proposed new fire hall is planned at 70 feet by 40 feet with a floor plan taking up 2800 sq feet. The plan has a half loft area of 1400 sq feet. The plan has accommodation for fire response vehicles and emergency response vehicle, related equipment , Personal protective equipment, change room, bathroom and training area. The new plan additionally accounts for off grid power, water and sewer per regulations and the building will be constructed to code.

- The current facility is virtually a shed with an old outhouse out back in the brush and is not an acceptable Fire Department facility for the current standards, training expectations, equipment compliment required to meet this regional Volunteer Fire Department’s needs.

- The Fire Underwriters Survey 2008 addresses that this service requires either a significantly upgraded facility or a new one to provide the service level expected, training requirements and general morale for dedicated volunteers.

- The current situation is unacceptable and threatens public safety with shared access of an emergency services facility and recycling depot.

- This emergency service is the only service on the island with no full time ambulance or police.

I was the chief of the Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department a few years ago and can’t stress enough that this is a worth-while opportunity to pursue for Lasqueti Island.

I hope this helps paint the picture of the importance in doing our best to get this grant.

Thanks very much

Mike Wall, RFT

Manager of Community Services

From: Mike Wall [mailto:mike [dot] wall [at] powellriverrd [dot] bc [dot] ca]

Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 2:47 PM

To: Marnie Eggen; Timothy Peterson

Subject: letter of Support

Tim

Answer to your questions re taxes and funding requirements outside of the grant funding (the 1/3 rd from regional service)

Implications if successful and project proceeds are

Approx.

$19 / 100,000 of assessed value increase

$13 parcel tax increase

If you own a house and property worth $300,000.00 your total increase if project goes ahead will be $71.00 and your total tax would go up to $237.00 inclusive of the $71.00

This obligation is for 30 years.

It is my understanding that the Manager of Emergency Services received positive public comments at the fire dept. picnic this past year regarding this and that the Director is in support of this. If the support wasn’t there he would not be spending the time to make application for the Grant Funding.

Thanks

Mike Wall, RFT

Manager of Community Services

This last email had this appended to it:

”The information herein is confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or entity to whom it is addressed.

Any review, re-transmission, dissemination, taking of any action in reliance upon, or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.

If you believe this message was not intended for you, please notify the sender and delete or destroy all digital and printed copies.”