Construction of new Dashwood firehall approved

Exeter Downtown

By John Miner

A project more than a decade in the making, a new Dashwood Fire Hall has been given the green light by South Huron municipal council.

A gallery packed with firefighters and their families broke into extended applause at the June 1 council meeting when a recorded vote was taken to award the tender for the fire hall.

All council members present voted in favour of the $4.1 million project.

Agri-Urban Buildings Incorporated, the lowest of 14 bidders, was awarded the contract.

The new three-bay firehall is to be built at 177 Centre Street South in Dashwood with an anticipated completion date of April 19, 2027.

Council had budgeted $3.5 million for the new firehall. To cover the additional cost of the project, council approved using money from the fire capital replacement reserve and a debenture.

Spriet Associates, the engineering firm that reviewed the tenders, said the results are considered competitive and reflective of current market conditions.

A staff report on the new firehall said it will provide efficiencies and a modern facility that focuses on health and safety of staff. There will be little to no impacts to the community during construction as the project will be on municipal lands, the report said.

Coun. Aaron Neeb said residents of South Huron should be aware that the new firehall is not just Dashwood’s fire station, but it is a fire station for the entire municipality.

“An adequate facility in Dashwood means improved protection for our volunteer firefighters, but also the entire municipality including Exeter, Huron Park, Centralia, Kirkton, Crediton, Shipka, Oakwood, Grand Cove and everywhere in between,” Neeb said.

Neeb noted that part of the cost of the new firehall will be covered by development charges.

“Development charges aren’t just for the municipality to collect money, they are to pay for services like our fire service.”