The County of Wetaskiwin’s Buck Lake/Alder Flats fire department is on its way to getting a new fire hall after a land acquisition proposal was accepted by council at the June 6 regular council meeting.
The update on the Buck Lake/Alder Flats fire hall project was provided by Director of Emergency services Mike Zajac.
“The first step in moving forward with construction of a new Fire Hall is location,” stated Zajac in his memo to council.
“Administration discussed a potential purchase of a 5 acre site with a local landowner. This proposed 5 acre site would allow for the construction of a new fire station that would meet the current demands of today’s operations and well into the future.
“The 5 acres would also be large enough to not only contain a fire hall and any future expansion if necessary and could also accommodate a potential future training facility as well.”
Zajac noted in his memo the current Buck Lake/Alder Flats fire hall has been added onto a number of times, and has some issues such as newer fire trucks not fitting through the hall doors. This and other issues such as a lack of space at the current site resulted in councilors deciding to look at a new site just down the road from the current hall owned by Rudy Brzus along Hwy. #13.
“At the February 11, 2019 Council General meeting, Council directed Administration to investigate with Alberta Transportation for development of a new fire hall and possible intersection upgrades and request a written declaration outlining requirements,” stated Zajac.
“Director of Emergency Services Mike Zajac met with Mr. Brzus on March 14, 2019. Mr. Brzus was open to receiving an offer for the purchase of land to the immediate east of the existing Buck Lake Alder Flats Fire Hall (NW 33-45-6-W5M).”
Zajac told councilors the county was willing to offer $40,000 for the parcel in question, and Brzus was willing to accept that offer.
Councilors unanimously ratified the purchase agreement between the County of Wetaskiwin and Brzus for the land in question for $40,000.