Regional district seeks voter approval for dispatch upgrades
Starting on Aug. 22, those who oppose the proposal will have until Oct. 1 to submit their elector response forms. If at least 6,44... submit the forms, directors will be forced to either nix the plan or take it to a full referendum.
An alternative approval process to borrow $3 million for upgrades to the fire dispatch system was put into motion Thursday by FraserFort George Regional District directors.
Starting on Aug. 22, those who oppose the proposal will have until Oct. 1 to submit their elector response forms. If at least 6,447 – equal to 10 per cent of the voters in the FFGRD – submit the forms, directors will be forced to either nix the plan or take it to a full referendum.
The money is to go toward a $5-million project to relocate the fire operations communications centre to the new Prince George Fire Rescue No. 1 fire hall and to develop a backup location near the corner of Ospika Boulevard and Opie Crescent.
The system would also be upgraded to meet new federal requirements.
The centre not only looks after dispatch for Prince George Fire Rescue, it also serves, through a series of contracts, fire departments in the Fraser-Fort George,Cariboo, Kitmat-Stikine, Bulkley-Nechako and Central Kootenay regional districts and the Creston area.
It adds up to 81 departments covering 210,000 residents.
Currently, the service’s operating and equipment reserves total $3.6 million and staff is recommending it be maintained at no less than $950,000 to deal with operational issues and emergencies.
As result, the FFGRD will need to borrow $3 million to maintain the reserve and pursue to project.
The money would be borrowed from the Municipal Financial Authority over as much as 20 years. Because the term is more than five years, it must be taken to an AAP.
The forms will be available through the FFGRD website, www. rdffg.bc.ca, the FFGRD’s main office at First Avenue and George Street, as well as at the McBride, Valemount and Mackenzie municipal offices and the Bear Lake Community Commission office starting Aug. 22.