Town signs deal with UBCM to receive 400K to be used on ‘green initiatives’ in building new fire hall

The Town of Osoyoos will be receiving more than $400,000 from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (OBCM) to build its new fire hall after the town approved a funding agreement that originated more than three years ago.

The Town of Osoyoos was approved for Gas Tax Funding in the amount of $407,142 to help build its new fire hall by the UBCM more than three years ago, said Barry Romanko, the town’s chief administrative officer during a special meeting of town council last Wednesday.

To get the money that has been sitting in a reserve fund, council had to officially approve the agreement.

The agreement stipulated that construction on the new fire hall for the Town of Osoyoos had to have commenced before Sept. 1 of 2015 and that the project be completed before Nov. 30 of 2016, said Romanko.

The funding will go towards implementing “green components” into the new fire hall, including such items as increased insulation, energy efficient windows, geothermal heating and special water fixtures, said Romanko.

The funding approved by the UBCM has always been part of the overall budget of the new fire hall project for Osoyoos and last week’s agreement allows the UBCM to officially turn the money over to the town with construction on the fire hall expected to begin in late summer.

“This is the financial agreement that allows us to get the money (from the UBCM),” said Romanko.

The management committee with the UBCM approved funding for the eligible projects set out from the organization’s Innovation Fund, through its general strategic priorities fund, and/or funding for regionally significant projects, said Romanko.

Eligible voters in the Town of Osoyoos approved council borrowing close to $6 million to build a new fire hall during a referendum that was held in conjunction with last November’s municipal election.

Once construction begins later this year, it’s expected to take several months to build the new fire hall, with the official opening date expected to be in the spring or early summer of 2016.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times