The Eel Brook and District Fire Department got some good news recently in its process towards a new fire hall.
A ratepayers meeting was held March 28 and a request to increase the fire rate to 12.5 cents per $100 of assessment from the current 7.5 cents.
Eel Brook fire chief Jonathon LeBlanc tells CJLS News they were very pleased with the results of the secret ballot vote.
“The results were 35 to 1 in favour of increasing the tax rate. It’s a big step forward for us in looking to get this fire hall project off the ground.”
LeBlanc says the vote results still have to be approved Argyle municipal council.
He says the municipality still has to approve a request for $406,000 which matches what the fire department has raised so far.
If that’s approved then the Eel Brook Fire Department can make an application for federal funding to ACOA.
LeBlanc says one of the biggest concerns raised at the meeting was the impact it would have on low-income earners.
He tells CJLS News it really isn’t that big of an increase.
“It works out to about $10 a month per $100,000 assessment on a home. It’s one night eating out, plus it gets us a new fire hall.”
LeBlanc says without a new fire hall, insurance rates in the district would “skyrocket”.
Reported by Gary Nickerson
