Corner Brook delays capital spending for emergency fire pumper purchase
Corner Brook's city council hastily voted on the purchase of a new fire pumper truck, a week after it announced the fire department wouldn't be able to respond to calls outside of the city until the truck was replaced.
But without funding from the Newfoundland and Labrador government, the city will have to dip into its multi-year capital works program, Mayor Charles Pender said.
The city was left scrambling after its 27-year-old pumper truck used as backup broke down earlier this month, and because of the vehicle's vintage, the replacement parts are no longer made.
While the pumper wasn't used for primary or secondary response, it limited the fire department's ability to answer calls in neighbouring communities.
According to a post that Pender made on Facebook, the city asked the province for emergency funding but the request was denied.
"In the meantime," Pender wrote, "the City has been approached by two separate manufacturers who have indicated they may be able to supply a new vehicle to meet our needs in the next three to four months."
Even with a new pumper truck, Pender said Corner Brook will no longer service outside communities for free.
This year, the city responded to 11 out of city calls that cost $50,000.
If one of the surrounding communities wants extra fire protection, Pender said they can come to some type of financial agreement.
Money for the pumper truck will be taken from funds with the multi-year capital works program, split 70/30 between the province and city.
"This is a capital purchase, so we are asking the minister today to provide us with his permission to go outside the Public Tender Act and use the emergency provisions to buy a stock truck that needs our needs," Pender told CBC News.
Pender could not say which projects if any will be delayed or cancelled because of the reallocation of funds.