During the 2025 budget talks, Midland fire chief Richard Renaud was asked for the rationale on a $175,000 roof repair, which opened up a larger discussion toward the projected construction of a new fire hall on the 10-year plan. Of question was why council would spend the money to patch the roof along with other upgrades when a new facility was anticipated in a decade.
Renaud replied that council had deferred a capital request for a new building and directed the fire department to look into ways to extend the current 30-year-old facility at 550 Bayshore Drive over the next decade, with a current feasibility study exploring an ideal location for the facility.
Mayor Bill Gordon added further rationalization for current facility upgrades. “We hope to look at a campus approach to a new building that combines fire, perhaps police and ambulance, hopefully within the next 10 years.”
Understanding the rising costs to build infrastructure, Coun. Sheldon East urged for the safety of residents and suggested that council put in effort to hastening its construction, but was told it was a welcome but premature offer due to partnerships with neighbouring Penetanguishene.
The next day, Coun. Bill Meridis held the approved $175,000 roof repair as a point of contention while pressing staff on anticipating fixing problems before they reached a state of more expensive repair. While making the comments, he noted that the fire department received all of its requests from the 2024 and 2025 budget to that point, including the hiring of four firefighters from last year.
“Our call volume went up 14.8 per cent last year, (and general) alarms went up 21.5 last year,” Renaud replied. He added that earlier in the week, firefighters responded quickly to a structure fire.
“Luckily we have four (firefighters) on duty; the truck was out the door within 90 seconds and was on the scene within six minutes because of travel time,” said Renaud. “The second truck where we wait for the fourth person – or to staff that truck with volunteers on callback – was there in 14 minutes.
“You can see the difference that the added four people – one person on each shift when you have them on duty – how quickly we get there,” added Renaud.
A 2022 Midland fire master plan found that for 90 per cent of incidents in 2020, response times averaged to just over 12 minutes; the study recommended 80 seconds in response time for career fire departments. Council of the day were recommended to increase fire staff by eight firefighters as a result.
When asked by East what an ideal department could be if fully funded, Renaud downplayed his requests and cited a “one team one dream” approach by the entire municipal staff to keep the budget low, but joked he was glad to be sitting away from senior staff when asked.
“By all means, if it’s the wish of the mayor and council… to bring forth two additional firefighters (this year), I’ll gladly take that,” Renaud said with a laugh. “That’s why you see it next year and the year after; (an additional request) is the fire prevention (officer) that might have to show up at some point.”
Detailed information, timelines and reports on the 2025 budget can be found on the budget and finance page of the Town of Midland’s website.
The three-day 2025 budget deliberations are available to view on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel.