The possibility of a satellite fire station in the northeastern part of Merritt is a step closer to reality with city council’s recent approval of a land exchange agreement.

At last Tuesday’s regular council meeting, City of Merritt Fire Chief Dave Tomkinson brought forward a report to council recommending a land exchange with the company Superstar Properties Ltd. for a property near the Merritt airport.

The negotiated land exchange agreement involves closing an unconstructed road and swapping it with the company for a subdivided parcel of land near the airport’s runway and land to be dedicated as a road.

The exchange would provide the city with land to potentially build a future satellite fire station next to the airport, a report to council stated.

Under the agreement, the city would need to apply for all necessary government approvals with respect to a subdivision plan, pay all associated fees, and service the newly subdivided lot with water and sewer.

The financial implications of the land exchange agreement total about $26,000 for servicing, surveying and legal costs, a report to council stated.

Tomkinson said the land exchange agreement with this company has been ongoing for the past two decades and pointed out that while there are no plans to establish a second fire station, it’s believed to be an appropriate time to acquire land for the future.

The northeastern sector of Merritt consists of residential, institutional and commercial developments and is expected to continue to grow, warranting future improvements to fire protection services to limit safety issues, loss of property and reduce fire insurance premiums.

Tomkinson said this property would offer the future fire department access to the airport’s centre runway and one day provide enhanced fire department responses to the northeastern part of the city. A future satellite fire station would also support potential expansion of the airport, he said.

Earlier in the meeting, council approved the first three readings of a bylaw and making the necessary notifications of that bylaw in order to begin closing the road, which had to precede approval of the exchange agreement.

Chief administrative officer Allan Chabot told council the land to be transferred to Superstar Properties and the proposed lot for a fire hall and the portion to be dedicated as a road are equal in size.

Council approved the recommendation to give first three readings to City of Merritt Highway Closure and Removal of Dedication Bylaw 2180, which allows closing the unconstructed road, but that is only the first of several procedures that will precede the final land swap.

People who consider themselves affected by the closure will have an opportunity to notify city council at the regular council meeting on Dec. 16.

Council approved notifying BC Hydro, Telus, Kinder Morgan, the city’s public works department, Shaw and FortisBC of its intention to adopt the bylaw as it may affect the operations of those companies. Council also approved giving notice of its intention to dispose of land comprising that road to Superstar Properties Ltd. for a proposed lot and land to be dedicated as a road.

The Ministry of Transportation will also have to approve the road closure bylaw.

Chabot pointed out that if the incoming city council doesn’t want to adopt the road closure bylaw, the land exchange agreement will be nullified.