The firehall that did not move

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Wheatland County council and fire administration want to set the record straight. The new Carseland firehall is set for the new build at the chosen site on Hwy 24 and RR260, adjacent to the waste transfer site. The site was previously owned by Wheatland County and arrangements were made with the county to ownership for the properties with the county purchasing the old hall from the Carseland Fire Association for $100,000. Disposition of the old building and site is yet to be determined.
A recent media release confused some folks, as it implied that a review of the Quebec Lac Megantic rail accident of 2013, was influencing officials to consider a new site.
“The building site was determined through internal meeting discussions of the Fire Service Review committee, who determined the best place for the new hall,” said Lisa Bastarache, Public Relations manager for Wheatland County.
She said many factors determined the best place for the hall that would serve the public, commercial interests, local industries and firefighter needs.
The fundraising for the new hall has been ongoing. Carseland Fire Association is tasked with raising 40 per cent of the funds and Wheatland County will come up with the remaining 60 per cent. Carseland is nearing their goal of $400,000. Generous donations from businesses in the area have made the possibility of ground breaking on the site in the spring. Stella Jones has challenged businesses in the area to match their donation of $25,000 to the project and Agrium will meet, or possibly better that donation on March 9. Along with the fire association fundraisers, other individuals and businesses such as Orica have also donated; it is a community effort to create a safe and efficient working hall for the community and highway responses.