Village needs new firetruck

Photo: Skylar Noe-vack

The Village of Keremeos will be asking residents to approve a loan for a new firetruck this fall.

A new machine will cost about $504,000, and the village is requesting a loan of $350,000 which would be paid back over 15 years.

The Keremeos Fire Department has $180,000 in reserves for the new truck which will also be used.

The requested loan is $26,000 more than the estimate of what is needed, but that amount will "allow for any unanticipated costs or higher quote amounts which may arise."

Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer said the new truck would take up to two years for the village to receive, and would replace one truck which is 23 years old.

"Once (a firetruck) reaches 25 years, it becomes very difficult for it to be certified... It's like every other equipment, it gets old and needs to be replaced," Bauer said.

"It's something we have to do... If you don't get certified, you don't have a fire truck. And if you don't have a fire truck, you don't have a department."

An assent vote on the firetruck will be done during the local municipal election on Oct. 18.

The assent voting process is needed due to the borrowing amount compared to the taxable value of land in the village.

Prior to the public vote, the province's Inspector of Municipalities will need to approve a bylaw that will enable the borrowing request.