TNRD – Three rural communities vote ‘yes’ on fire-service proposals
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
Residents of three rural communities have voted strongly in favour of establishing fire services under the administration of the TNRD.
Today was referendum day for McLure, Loon Lake and South Green Lake.
Preliminary results in McLure, in Electoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks), show 103 (including advance votes) in favour and 15 against. Residents within the fire service area were asked to decide on the question:
“Are you in favour of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District adopting Bylaw No. 2649 for the purpose of establishing the McLure fire protection service area within a portion of Electoral Area ‘P’ (Rivers and the Peaks) with a maximum annual tax requisition for operating costs of $150,000 or 2.618/ $1,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements, whichever is greater?”
Advance voting June 13 at the McLure Fire Hall and TNRD office resulted in 27 in favour and six opposed. Today’s general voting day vote at the hall totalled 76 in favour and nine opposed.
Similar referenda in Loon Lake and South Green Lake were also approved today, by 115-31 and 149-6 respectively.
Due to liability concerns, the TNRD earlier this year decided to withdraw tax collection for non-TNRD administered, society-run fire departments by the end of 2022. The annual operating budget for the new McLure fire service is estimated at $150,000 compared to the society’s previous budget of about $40,000.
— Mel Rothenburger, Director, Electoral Area P, TNRD
ArmchairMayor.ca 
When will we consider the cost of firefighting services in comparison to the actual hazard and the service provided. Most municipal FD’s are budgetary sink holes providing a narrow scope of service. Time to amalgamate fire and ambulance and review actual call volume for FD’s with a lens on what those calls consist of and the resources required.
LikeLike