A city councillor says he’s disappointed more people didn’t attend an information session on Thunder Bay’s proposed master fire plan.
Only three people attended the second meeting on the plan Thursday night at West Thunder Community Centre. Westfort Coun. Joe Virdiramo said he’s not sure why the open house was so poorly attended but there were several other meetings on city issues Thursday.
“The good news story is that we’re trying to do something that’s going to benefit the citizens of this area,” Virdiramo said.]
With better coverage and shorter response times for over 500 people in Neebing and Westfort, Virdiramo said to move Brown Street Station to the vicinity of Rosslyn Road and Neebing Avenue was a good one.
“Of course you don’t like to see anything leave your ward however it’s still going to be in the ward wherever it’s going to be placed,” he said.
Brown Street Station is over 60 years old and newer fire trucks can’t fit in there anymore Virdiramo said. So far he hasn’t heard anyone from Westfort complain about the plan once they’ve seen it.
“If they’re going to get better service then there’s nothing to complain about.”
As for other city councillors, there are always concerns when talking about two new buildings, including the rebuilding of Neebing Fire Station on its current location, worth millions of dollars. But Virdiramo said he thinks it’s for the best to build them.
“Can we afford it and will the tax rate support it? However it’s the right thing to do. You can hold off but then the longer you hold off the more money it’s going to cost,” Virdiramo said.
Don Long has lived in Westfort his whole life. He said he’s not sure why so few people turned out but he think the plan is a good one. Brown Street Station is small and there are better locations in the ward for a fire station. Plus it’s over 60 years old he said.
“That’s a long time,” said Long, who as volunteer at West Thunder helped set the meeting up. “The station’s been there as long as I can remember.”
Because of the turnout, Virdiramo has asked fire chief John Hay to present the plan one more time at the Westfort ward meeting Nov. 10 at West Thunder Community Centre.
