Bluewater staff will be looking to establish clear protocols for the use of buildings destined for demolition by the local fire department, following a request from a local property owner for compensation in the form of reimbursement.
At council’s meeting last Monday (June 17th), correspondence from local property owners requested reimbursement of a $240 demolition permit fee. The individuals had allowed their property to be used for fire department training exercises – which Deputy Mayor John Becker indicated was a fairly common practice.
Discussion revealed that there is no formal agreement in place for such arrangements. Typically, properties are offered to the fire department via word of mouth for training purposes, Chief Dave Erb said that the experience can be extremely valuable in training. Councilor Greg Lamport raised concerns about the lack of a formal agreement and the unusual nature of the reimbursement request, likening it to seeking payment for a donation.
Councillor Whetstone indicated that he believed a best practice should be developed.
Despite some reservations, the council acknowledged the value of the training provided and ultimately, the motion to reimburse the $240 demolition permit fee from the fire department’s training budget was passed.
The council agreed this would be a one-time reimbursement, with plans to establish clearer protocols for future training use of properties.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
