Summerside resolves to buy generator in move to make St. Eleanors city's emergency hub

The city of Summerside is buying a new 60 kWgeneration system atSt. Eleanors Community Centre and Fire Hall.

The plan is for the community centre tobecome the city's primary emergency station.

Councillor Cory Snowchair of the community services department committee saidthe decision to find an emergency station came after noticing some "insufficient areas of our system" during last fall's post-tropical storm Dorian.

"The safety of our residents is paramount when it comes to issues like Dorian," he said, "So we determined that the St. Eleanors Fire Hallwas the best location."

Snowsaid the community centre can easily hold 200 people andwas chosen because of it's accessibility as a one-level building, making it easier for people with mobility issues to get around.

Power tothe entire building

On Tuesday night's regularmeeting, council passed a resolution to purchase the diesel generator.

The tender was awarded to R.I.K.S.Electrical for$86,250.

Greg Gaudet, the municipal services director with the City of Summerside saidthe generator will be capable of running up to 80 hours at a time, meaning it can power the entire building.

"That's full heat, full services, full kitchen."

He said there's also a level 2 sound enclosure for the generator which will lowernoise levels forthe community when it runs.

Snow said construction is set to begin in April.

"I'm very glad to see that we're moving ahead, seeing that you never know when there might be another weather event that displaces residents in our city," he said.

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