Amherstburg Town Council might to move ahead with a new fire hall near the Libro Credit Union Centre at a special meeting on Monday night.
The South Fire Station will replace Fire Stations No. 1 and No. 3. The 20,0000 sq. ft. facility would be located on the northeast corner of the Libro Credit Union Centre property on Simcoe Street at Concession Road 4 South.
A report recommends issuing $11.6-million in debt for construction in next year's operating budget. It also suggests holding off on building a public gym, which was proposed alongside the new fire hall.
The Amherstburg Fire Department takes about 500 calls a year, and a previous report said all three of the town's fire halls were inadequate to meet the current and future needs of Amherstburg, with its population of more than 23,000.
The Fire Master Plan, adopted in 2020, called for replacing Fire Hall No. 2 with a smaller building at the same County Road 10 location.
The plan includes a long list of the current fire hall's shortcomings. It said Station No. 1 had no power backup, no way to prevent oil from draining into the storm sewer, and no proper decontamination space. The roof is in disrepair, and snow and rain come through the bay doors.
Station No. 3 also had no power backup, a bad roof, and no decontamination room.