Dear Editor:
After having read many letters and having heard comments about the upcoming referendum, I visited the fire hall open house recently.
I was a firefighter for 31 years in West Vancouver, retiring as an Assistant Chief, and viewed and commented on the construction of two new fire halls.
In my opinion, architectural drawings for the proposed hall to be built in Osoyoos, show a practical design that contains all that it should and is not excessive for a quality working fire hall.
In fact, it does not include a dormitory nor a party room as some have suggested.
The Emergency Operations Centre, though just a room with tables and chairs, is not the same as a room at the Sonora Centre.
It will be equipped with modern telecommunications and designed with its own power plant to operate 24 hours a day, in case of a natural disaster.
The only thing that I might question about the design is whether or not this fire hall requires four drive-through truck bays – perhaps three is enough.
I cannot comment on the $6 million dollar price tag as I have no expertise in that field. It seems to be lot, but I have to trust the professional cost accountants and engineers in that area and our duly elected mayor and council to keep a sharp pencil when viewing that budget.
Thank you for allowing me to share this.
Don Steinbart
Osoyoos, B.C.
