South Okanagan fire dispatch services could be moving to Central Okanagan

Staff  The Kelowna Daily Courier   2011-07-20
Regional fire dispatch services should be relocated to Kelowna, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has been told.  RDOS directors are expected to award a new five-year contract Thursday for fire dispatch services, which have operated out of the downtown Penticton fire hall since 1990. The current contract expires at the end of this year.  The City of Kelowna submitted the lowest of four bids received with a tender of $1,076,000 over the five years, compared to $2,865,000 for Penticton. Also submitting  proposals were Surrey ($1,137,000) and the Fraser Valley Regional District ($1,288,000). RDOS administrator Bill Newell said the three new proponents, which operate their own fire dispatch centres, will require startup costs for the Penticton service. However, he noted they utilize state-of-the-art technology to help overcome their lack of local knowledge.  "The three other proponents have identified that new technology, planned site visits and regular communication will provide for fast transition of area knowledge," Newell said in a report to the RDOS board.  "The City of Penticton uses older technology that is provided by the regional district and would have to be replaced in 2012."  The regional district has budgeted $555,000 for fire dispatch services in 2011. This would drop to $200,900 in 2012 if a contract is awarded to Kelowna.  However, Penticton fire Chief Wayne Williams said Tuesday the RDOS shouldn‘t just consider the bottom line.  "I still feel that our dispatchers can offer a better level of service, being that they are the local people," he said. "They live here, they work here, they know the area."