By Mark Squibb
Bay Bulls council has agreed to write a letter of support to the provincial government on behalf of the Town of Witless Bay requesting funding for a new fire hall, but the town, as of now, won’t be helping finance the project should it come to fruition.
Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien moved that council write a letter supporting the call for a feasibility study to better secure possible funding for a new fire hall.
Councillor Corey Ronayne said the request was essentially for an updated feasibility study.
“We’re not saying that we’re in support of a new fire hall or not,” said Ronayne. “But they want to do a new feasibility study, and that’s the basis for this.”
Deputy Mayor O’Brien added the fire hall is owned and operated by the Town of Witless Bay.
“We have no financial control over how they spend their funds,” said O’Brien. “We pay a fee for a service, that’s all.”
The motion carried unanimously.
Beginning in 2021, when Witless Bay first budgeted for construction of a new fire hall, the Town placed great emphasis on bolstering its fire protection services, including the hiring of a full time chief and the purchase of new equipment.
In 2022, Witless Bay council accepted $2 million in cost-shared funding from the provincial government for the construction of a new fire hall and agreed to pay its share of the project, which at that time was $815,640. However, work has not proceeded on the project to date.
