PRRD pre-approves 2025 budget items for Chetwynd and Dawson Creek

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board of Directors has made several pre-budget approval decisions ahead of the 2025-2029 PRRD Financial Plan. 

During the November 21st Regional Board Meeting, directors pre-approved three projects for 2025 in Dawson Creek and Chetwynd. 

A budget pre-approval request from the Dawson Creek Fire Department for up to $1.46 million received unanimous approval. The money will go towards an engine chassis and completed engine build in 2025. 

The budget line will be included in the Dawson Creek/Pouce Coupe Fire Draft 2025-2029 PRRD Financial Plan. 

Staff confirmed to Pouce Coupe Director Danielle Veach that the cost was the PRRD’s obligation under prior agreement and would not impact the budget for the Pouce Coupe Fire Department in 2025. 

A request was also approved to install a site-specific heat pump at the Chetwynd Leisure Centre. The project is budgeted to cost $612,950, and the board has approved a $176,940 inclusion in the upcoming draft PRRD Financial Plan to cover the remaining 25 per cent of the project cost. 

In preparation for the project, Polar Engineering was hired to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions and energy reductions engineering analysis of the Cheywynd and District Rec Centre, which includes the Arena and the Leisure Centre, in 2023. 

In 2024, the project received confirmation that 75 per cent of the costs could be covered by energy conservation incentives and grants, as long as the project was completed within 18 months.

The board also approved a pre-budget request from the Chetwynd Arena for installation of dehumidifier setpoint optimization. 

This project will also receive 75 per cent funding from energy conservation incentives and grants, and costs covered by the PRRD are not expected to exceed $4,313. It is also expected to be completed within 18 months.

Installation of both the heat pump and dehumidifier setpoint optimization are intended to be completed during the shutdown period of the Arena Refrigeration Plant in August 2025. 

To ensure this timeline is achievable, tenders for the project must be awarded by the end of January 2025.