A drawing of the proposed Scotch Creek-Lee Creek fire station. (Image Credit: CSRD)

By Victor Kaisar

Shuswap Fire Proection

CSRD adopts temporary borrowing plan to keep proposed Scotch Creek-Lee Creek fire station project on track

Aug 22, 2025 | 4:02 PM

SCOTCH CREEK, B.C. — The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) has adopted a new financing plan as it continues working on a plan to rebuild a fire station to serve the communities of Scotch Creek and Lee Creek.

The CSRD says costs have risen due to inflation as well as development at the new location (1435 Beatty Road in Scotch Creek) and some enhancements to the building when compared to the one that was destroyed by the Bush Creek East fire in 2023.

In a news release, the CSRD noted the rebuilt fire station is estimated to cost $5.6 million, more than double the $2.3 million that insurance would have paid out in replacement costs for the former building.

The CSRD’s short-term borrowing plan will involve it taking money from capital reserve funds for the Anglemont Water System, the CSRD Administration Building and the Area ‘F’ Community Parks fund.

It will also use up to $500,000 from the Electoral Area ‘F’ Community Works Fund toward the project, adding without this financing plan, the project “could not proceed.”

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“This is really about timing, it’s about getting some shovels in the ground as soon as we can,” said Jay Simpson, the CSRD’s North Shuswap Director said. “The delay to go through the [Municipal Finance Authority] and public assent is challenging.”

“I appreciate that we’ve been creative in this way. I hate the number but obviously we don’t have a choice.”

Work to rebuild the fire station is expected to begin this fall and wrap up next year. It will consist of a prefabricated steel structure with space for fire trucks, storage and a training room, which may also be used for community events.

“It’s important to know that we are not building anything extravagant,” added Derek Sutherland, the CSRD’s general manager of community and protective services. “Keeping the costs low while still satisfying the needs of the fire department and the desire for a continued community space is always top of mind.”

The CSRD also said the board intends to eventually seek approval from the electorate to move this interim borrowing to a long-term borrowing plan. It may involve the use of an alternative approval process (AAP) next February or a referendum during next fall’s municipal election.

“The conversion to long-term borrowing would involve repaying the interim funds pulled from the capital reserves,” the CSRD statement said. “Also included as part of the long-term borrowing plan would be the cost of constructing a new fire hall for Anglemont.”

“There would be cost savings in developing both projects within a similar time frame.”

To help reduce the impact to taxpayers for the two projects, the CSRD says it has applied for supplementary funding like Disaster Financial Assistance. It is also working with the Provincial Recovery Team and to source out other infrastructure grant options.

“The CSRD is also asking for its insurance company to reassess the value of the previous fire hall,” the statement added.

It cautioned that if voters do not approve of the long-term borrowing plan, taxpayers within the Area ‘F’ Sub-Regional Fire Service Area will be paying back the approximately $3 million pulled from reserves over a five-year term.

In that instance, the CSRD also said the Anglemont fire hall project will be shelved until funding can be secured.