By ROY WOOD
Representatives of the town and the contractor got together at a photo opportunity Monday afternoon to sign the latest contract for the new Osoyoos fire hall.
The gathering was a formality, Greyback Construction having been deemed the successful bidder three weeks ago and work being already well under way at the 74th Avenue and Highway 97 site.
Earlier Monday, council approved a slightly amended contract with Greyback, which saw the total amount reduced by about $45,750 to $5,644,150.33.
The start of work in early November follows more than nine years since a new fire hall for Osoyoos took its place on the town’s agenda.
In 2007, following a review of town facilities, a consultant’s report recommended that a new fire hall was needed.
After seven years of study and planning, council decided in the fall of 2013 to go to the residents of Osoyoos in a referendum to seek approval to borrow the money to build the new hall.
Then, in July 2014, council reversed its decision on a referendum and decided to go ahead through the so-called “Alternative Approval Process” to borrow the $6 million or so needed for construction.
A grass-roots revolt followed and a successful petition drive forced council to reverse direction again and go to referendum after all.
The borrowing proposal easily gained approval from voters and the project moved to final design and tendering.
Construction is expected to take about a year on the site, which is a short block up the road from the former of home of John Slater. He was Osoyoos mayor in 2007 when the fire hall process began. He died suddenly this spring.