A lease agreement with Parhar Holdings has been approved by the Cowichan Valley Regional District to support an emergency communications workshop and warehouse space.
According to the district, the space at 5280 Polkey Road would be leased for three years and would support Emergency Management Cowichan with managing and supporting 911, fire dispatch, and emergency communications.
Several factors led to the decision to renew the lease, including space issues and maintaining various critical radio and dispatch systems and the district says this led to the less than ideal working conditions.
“Radio staff operated out of their vehicles, and employee’s residential garage and various storage containers at Bings Creek over the past few years,” a staff report says. “Although the radio systems technician eventually began working at 175 Ingram Street following the flood restoration work, radio staff had a discordant operating profile.
“Still lacking workspace and storage space.”
The report says the space on Polkey Road was only intended to be used as a short-term lease option, but so far, no other suitable location has been found, and the lease must be extended.
Lease rates for the three-year total just over $106,000 before tax, which has been included in the 2025 budget, and is subject to a termination clause that requires three months’ notice with a three-month lease fee charge.
