Detachment need examined

September 15, 2010 6:00 PM Summerland Review

The future of Summerland’s police presence will be determined at a referendum on Oct 2 when voters decide whether they will approve the borrowing of $3.125 million for a proposed $4.5 million facility. The new facility is needed to replace the aging facility on Jubilee Road East. The present building has been used since 1975 and now needs repairs which are worth more than the costs of a new facility. “The current facility is unsafe for the RCMP officers and the staff who work out of it,” said municipal treasurer Ken Ostraat. The proposed building, near the top of Peach Orchard Road, would have around 900 square metres on the main floor. The basement, at around 450 square metres, would cost around $300,000 to build and would provide additional storage space. Cells would be roughed in, but whether they are completed would depend on the costs, he said.He added that the costs of an RCMP facility are higher than for a other buildings of the same size because of the security and safety requirements mandated by the RCMP. “Building a police station is different than building a house or an office building,” he said. “Police stations are expensive buildings to build.” To date, the municipality has received a grant of $375,000 for design and architectural work.

If the public turns down borrowing $3.125 million at the Oct. 2 referendum, the detachment will not proceed. Mayor Janice Perrino said Summerland has been told council has a year to get a firm plan in place for a new RCMP facility. Without that plan in place, the RCMP could build a new facility at Summerland’s expense or pull out of the community and be based in Penticton. “Rest assured it would cost us more if the federal government were to build the building,” said municipal administrator Don DeGagne. “The best long-term solution for this community is to build a building.” Sgt. Mona Kauffeld of the Summerland RCMP said the building no longer meets building code standards or security standards. When it opened in 1975, the detachment housed four officers and one person on support staff. Today there are nine officers and two support workers in the same facility, making for crowded conditions. The proposed facility would have room for a staff of 15 officers. Kauffeld said she and others will give tours of the building to anyone who wants to see the condition of the facility. “It’s important that the public gets out ad that they vote and that they let their voice be heard,” she said.

John Rasmussen of the RCMP’s South Okanagan Traffic Services in Penticton said the Summerland detachment is one of the worst offices where he has worked. Doug Hardman, vice-president of the Citizens on Patrol program, said a building is needed if the program is to be able to function. “Our system will fail without it,” he said. “We need the RCMP in Summerland.” The referendum on Oct. 2 will be held at Summerland Secondary School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance polling stations are also set up. For details, please visit the municipality’s website at summerland.ca.