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By Justine Kelsie

No changes for old fire hall

Mar 5, 2018 | 7:42 PM

There will be no changes to old fire hall building located in downtown Grande Prairie. 

During a special city council meeting on Monday set to decide the fate of the structure, councillors voted to cancel the RFP process that had been in question for months. 

Grain Bin Brewing Company and Equity Rentals Ltd. had been vying for the space. Although the latter received the highest evaluation from the city with a purchasing price of $855,000, the council chose to keep the almost 50-year-old building for themselves. 

“Based on the RFP process, the additional information that was presented to council with respect to cost to accommodate city staff and movement costs, a majority of council decided it wasn’t in the best interest at this time to move forward in disposing of the property,” said Mayor Bill Given following the decision Monday night.

“Ultimately, that means that the property will remain in the city’s portfolio. It will continue to be used as it is today.”

According to analysis in a city report, it would cost between $77,000 and $127,000 to relocate city departments currently in the building. The Community Social Development (CSD) department is in the office space while Technical Search and Rescue, RCMP, and Parks Department Ornamental Crew take up the shop area.

“For myself, I saw it as assessing the relative value to the community rather than just the financial picture that can be measured today. I know that other council members put more weight on the financial picture that could be measured through the assessed value. And the fact that the proposed sale prices, in either of the two cases, was below the city’s current appraised value for the property,” said Given.

According to the city, the appraised value of the structure is $1.22-million.

Both companies were disappointed with the decision.

“It’s been, I think, over 6-months now that we had been waiting on a decision. For them to make no decision and decide to retract their offer, I think us and Dan (from Equity Rentals), are pretty disappointed too. I think everyone is a little shocked and bummed,” said Dalen Landis from Grain Bin Brewing Company. 

The brewery has recently moved out to the County of Grande Prairie and will be looking at staying there, according to Landis. 

Daniel Goff, President of Equity Rentals, was upset with the work put in and the money spent after being asked to bring back more information to the city at a previous meeting.

“Honestly, it is frustrating when they ask for additional information and create additional costs over and over, multiple times. Not on one occasion, but multiple times. They should have figured it out before requesting more information. If they needed time to figure that out, that would have made sense,” said Goff.

Following the meeting, both companies said they would not be seeking any type of legal action.

 

 

by Justine Kelsie