RDNO Board Moves Forward On VSAR HQ Plan

By Tom Mark

Oct 18, 2018 | 8:16 AM

Another step has been taken toward getting a new headquarters for Vernon Search and Rescue.

The RDNO board has adopted Service Establishment and Loan Authorization bylaws to borrow up to three and a half million dollars for property and construction.

Board Chair Bob Fleming says staff can now start the process.

“We have up to five years to borrow the money involved. It’ll take a lot less that in this case I think to develop both a plan and location. So, it really
just authorizes staff to go ahead and start planning.”

That includes the process of discussing a design with Search and Rescue and hiring an architect along with narrowing down a site.

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He says there have been suggestions.

“We just emphasize that we’re remaining open to location. Obviously we’re looking at a number of options moving into the process of acquiring property and looking at design and build for that facility.”

Fleming says no preferred property has been mentioned and no timeline has been set.

The method for managing the loan is in place.

“Would be a 20 year loan. It’s gonna be paid back over that period of time. Until we actually borrow the money, other funds, working capital and reserves that are set aside for the purpose would be used.”

That money would then be repaid to the reserves once the loan is taken out.

The loan would be paid back by a property value tax.

RDNO say the current SAR facility was built in 1994 and was expanded in 2004.

“Due to the environmental sensitivities in the surrounding wetlands, a second expansion is not possible. RDNO has been providing an annual grant to VSAR since 2003 and will continue to do so. RDNO will own the new building and continue to lease the new building to VSAR at a nominal fee,” says an RDNO release.

by Tom Mark