A $350,000 shortfall in Welland Fire and Emergency Services’ fire tower project — originally budgeted at $1.6 million — will be covered by development charges and capital surplus reserves.
A report from acting fire Chief Matt Richardson said the initial budget was insufficient to cover the total costs of the tower structure in addition to foundation/footings, hydro and gas installations, and permits.
Those costs pushed the budget to $1.95 million for the tower to be built behind Station 1 headquarters on East Main St.
Symtech Fire LLC won the bid to provide the three-storey, 265-square-metre multi-use training tower, but it is the city’s responsibility to take care of the other items — foundation, hydro and gas.
Work on the three specialized cargo containers began in 2024, with Burlington-based subcontractor KEIN Welding & Fabrication Ltd. They were delivered last August and are now stored behind the fire station.
Following a closed-doors meeting, council approved the additional funding to complete the work and install the containers. Of the extra $350,000 needed, $87,000 will come from development charges and $262,500 from a capital surplus reserve.
In another report related to the fire department, councillors approved a $29,490 fire protection grant transfer agreement from the province to the city.
The grant will be used for minor infrastructure improvements to stations 1 and 2 to increase negative pressure in laundry rooms beyond what the buildings’ HVAC systems can provide, with the goal of eliminating cancer risks among firefighters.
Richardson’s report said firefighters are disproportionately affected by cancer due to exposure to harmful toxins and carcinogens.
According to International Association of Fire Fighters, cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters, surpassing cardiovascular incidents and trauma.
The chief’s report said that after a structure fire, firefighter bunker gear can off-gas volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other carcinogenic byproducts. Negative pressure ensures the contaminants remain inside the decontamination/laundry rooms and do not spread into clean areas of the stations.