On June 12, in the third of four working sessions designed to assist Shire Hall in creating a 10-year Asset Management Plan for its infrastructure, councillors discussed the County’s corporate vehicle fleet, its fire-and-rescue fleet and its parks.

The intent of these sessions is to convey hard information about the value of the County’s assets, their current condition and expected duration, and the costs associated with maintaining the Level of Service the municipality will commit to over the next decade.

This is the first step in community consultation, informing the public’s expectations, and laying out the implications for different options. The trade-offs to be made are between cost and level of service. The extensive documentation presented through discussion papers in each session demonstrates how costs deferred in the present must be borne in the future, or level of service must be degraded.

The numbers can be overwhelming, and if you have ever experienced the desire to complain about both the level of services you experience and the amount you pay in taxes, this is sobering information.

The big decisions to be made will come after the cumulative fourth working session on 28 August, when Committee of the Whole meets on 25 September.

Corporate Fleet

The County owns and maintains 140 vehicles valued at $20.7 million ranging from SUVs to graders and plows.

Estimates for maintaining the fleet at Good or Acceptable levels “would require a consistent annual investment of approximately $1,505,000 over the next 10 years.” Maintaining this level of service would mean “more reliable and timely service delivery … including road maintenance.”

The option to extend the lifecycle of the vehicles by 25 percent, taking them past their “typical replacement timelines” would save just over $300,000 per annum. It implies using vehicles with Fair or lower condition ratings and carries the risks of higher maintenance costs and service interruptions.

Fire Fleet

The same kinds of concerns apply to the 40-vehicle-strong Fire Fleet (valued at nearly $20 million). However, in this case there is the added concern about public safety and municipal liability.

The discussion paper notes that “the current approved service level differentials restrict firefighters from performing immediate life-saving operations in many areas of the County.

“Residents and firefighters must await a first-duty apparatus specifically approved for high-risk operations,” such as pumpers. Delays in first-duty apparatus arrival mean firefighters are not authorized or equipped to enter burning structures for rescues or perform interior fire suppression.”

To maintain the current level of Fire and Rescue service, which is already defined as a “limited-service delivery model,” would cost the county approximately $1,023,000 annually over the next decade.

To save money, the County can opt to reduce services further by redefining “limited,” with the anticipated effect of delayed responses, higher maintenance costs to the County as well as increased insurance rates for homeowners. Because of the complexity of choices, the report does not offer a cost estimate for a newly limited plan of service.

“Decisions regarding this asset should be informed by an updated Community Risk Assessment and, eventually, a Fire Master Plan to guide investment decisions and support the municipality’s desired level of fire services.”

Parks and Recreation

The County owns and operates 23 parks with playgrounds containing 158 service assets ranging from baseball diamonds to benches, community gardens and washrooms (total value $12.1 million). 38 percent of these assets are in “good” condition and 35 percent are “poor” to “very poor.” Accessibility is an issue independent of these ratings.

To improve the level of service in parks to “fair” or better is estimated to cost $316,000 per annum over the coming decade. To extend the lifecycle of assets by 25 percent would cost $253,000. This option also brings hazards of increased maintenance and liability for non-compliance with current accessibility standards.

Citizens will have the opportunity to take a survey and attend a pop-up information events in July, as well as contribute a deputation at Council or comment at the Have Your Say portal. For details see: haveyoursay.thecounty.ca/asset-management-plan