273 votes in favour and 114 opposed.
That was the outcome of a referendum on Saturday (Oct 26) that allows the Cariboo Regional District to borrow u to $3.25 million to build a new firehall.
Voter turnout is estimated to be about 12 percent, based on the 2,200 houses in the Quesnel Fringe Fire Protection Service area.
The CRD says the contract for building the new firehall is also expected to be put out to open tender following a detailed design process and confirmation of financing.
The loan is to be paid off in 30 years and residential property taxes will increase by $21.40 per $100,000 of assessed value.
The CRD says an average home will see an increase of $70.62 per year based on a $330,000 assessed value.
Mary Sjostrom. the CRD Director for Area A, says “the Red Bluff Firehall provides protection to a very large area, including properties in Red Bluff, Dragon Lake, Richbar and South Quesnel.”
“Thank you to everyone who voted for your support allowing the Cariboo Regional District to build a new firehall to meet the needs of our volunteers and of our growing community for years to come.”
The current Red Bluff firehall was built in 1981 and enables the Quesnel Volunteer Fire Department to provide fire protection to the areas covered in this referendum.
The CRD says due to a much larger population, significant commercial and industrial developments, and changing firefighting standards, the existing firehall no longer meets the needs of the fire department and had to be either retrofitted or replaced.
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