THUNDER BAY -- The city of Dryden is looking at consolidating its firefighting assets, which could see the closure of one of the two fire halls around the community.
Hall Number two was built in 1990 on Highway 17 east in the former township of Barclay, which turned into Dryden in 1998.
The closure of the hall hasn't been a popular city staff recommendation with the public, especially those who live in the former Barclay area.
Dryden's chief administrator Ernie Remillard said it is very uncommon to have two fire halls servicing a community the size of Dryden, which has a population of a little less than 8,000 people.
“It’s simply a fiscal decision and we have to continue to bring these types of opportunities to council,” Remillard said.
“We are still under fiscal constraint and we still have a lot of debt for a community of our size, so our job as administration is to look for any kind of opportunities and synergies in our operations…that’s all this a fiscal decision.”
A public consultation into the proposal will be held on May 9 at The Centre in Dryden.
If the hall is closed, it will net the city 75,000 in savings and staff and equipment will be transferred to the newer hall, located on Colonization Avenue.
(TBT News)
