Powell River Regional District is proposing to purchase two fire trucks through a provincial leasing program for the Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD).
The regional district invited tenders to supply two pumper trucks for MVFD. It received four proposals and, after using a scoring matrix, chose Hub Fire Engines. One truck will cost $273,502, plus taxes, while the second costs $246,971, plus taxes. The total for the two trucks is $520,473.
The plan is to lease the vehicles through the MFA (Municipal Finance Authority) Leasing Corporation. The regional district is proposing to lease the trucks over a 20-year period (four five-year lease terms) with annual lease costs of about $43,000 and a residual payment of about $364,331, plus taxes.
It’s anticipated the net increase from leasing expenses will result in a tax increase on residential class properties of approximately $3.56 per $100,000.
The regional district must obtain voter approval for the proposal. The regional board chose the alternative approval process (AAP), where voters opposed to the proposal have to sign forms and submit them to the regional district. If more than 10 per cent of voters submit signed forms, the regional district has to hold a referendum before it proceeds.
Based on a formula, the regional district calculated that 10 per cent of eligible electors in the Malaspina Fire Protection Local Service Area is 277.
The deadline for submitting signed forms is 4:30 pm on Friday, December 6.
The local service area includes almost all of Electoral Area B and that part of Electoral Area C which extends from Whalen Road to Thunder Bay and includes the Sechelt Indian Government District leasehold properties near Palm Beach.
The regional board passed a resolution at the October 24 board meeting that began the process. Directors also endorsed a 25 per cent increase to the Malaspina Fire Protection Service requisition limit and endorsed an increase to the requisition limit that will be incorporated into an amendment bylaw that will be forwarded to the board.
The Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) currently recognizes MVFD level of service with a 3B grading, which results in a semi-protected insurance grading. In order to maintain this insurance grading, FUS requires that fire department water tenders be less than 30 years old. Currently, MVFD has two water tenders, a 1981 Ford and a 1984 Ford, which must be replaced if the department is to maintain its current insurance grading. Without the grading, homeowners would face insurance increases, ranging from $1,343 to $3,203.
Interested readers who would like more information, including maps of the fire protection service, can visit the regional district’s website.
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