The referendum for the Forest Grove Fire Hall has been defeated.
Final voting was held this past Saturday (July 25) with 55 people voting yes and 66 no.
Cariboo Regional District Manager of Communications Kat Chatten said the referendum was for renovations to the Forest Grove Fire Hall, to make improvements and extend the life of the building, and make it more functional for the department.
“It would have structural repairs and upgrades to the systems. There was heating, plumbing, electrical, our building envelope needed to be improved so that was like new siding, new trim, accessible ability, safety upgrades and modifications for better firefighter operations.”
Chatten said the price tag for the repairs and upgrades was $1.6 million.
“But we did have a large portion of that covered with Grant Funding so the actual amount to borrow was only $880 thousand. Unfortunately with the referendum being defeated it means the project will not go forward. So the Hall stays open, it stays functioning but then the maintenance and repairs that we need for worker safety will have to come out of the services available funding now.”
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