Blake Ellis/The Independent

The Ministry of Labour says Oil Springs and South Enniskillen Fire Department needs new washrooms and shower facilities for firefighters to decontaminate after a call. But the project is still several years away.

A report discussed at both Enniskillen Township and Oil Springs councils last week, says the Ministry of Labour inspected the Oil Springs hall and found there was a need for dirty/clean change rooms.

An addition on the back of the fire hall could accommodate the change rooms meant to remove any harmful chemicals firefighters encounter.

The fire committee will contact a couple of contractors, review what is required and get some quotes. Oil Springs Councillor Jordan Newport, the chair of the fire committee, said this is the start of conversation about the need for a decontamination area, saying construction is still a couple of years away.

“The government is going to have to anti-up,” said Oil Springs Mayor Ian Veen, especially since it is the government who is calling for it to be in place.

Other things included in the fire capital budget is a tanker/pumper replacement with an estimated cost of $500,000 to $600,000 in 2028. The fire committee also wants to build a rear storage shed at an estimated cost of $500,000.

The proposed operating budget for the fire department also sees an 11.8 per cent increase over in 2023. The draft budget comes in at $188,840 compared to $168,850 in 2023. The biggest hike was to the insurance and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board expenses. There is $35,000 budgeted in 2024, $10,000 more than in the 2023 budget.

Enniskillen and Oil Springs split the department’s expenses 78/22.