By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg Councillor Aaron Burchat conveyed best wishes at this week's council meeting to firefighter Steve Koomen on his retirement after 24 years of dedicated service with the Cobourg Fire Department.

Koomen was first hired by the town as a building inspector, and then as a part-time firefighter. He was later promoted to a full-time firefighter-inspector's position.

“Congratulations to Firefighter Koomen on his well-deserved retirement,” the councillor said.

Burchat also offered year-to-date statistics for the fire department, starting with the 672 calls for service received through the end of May.

They report 177 training activities, which are beginning to transition from mostly on-line to in-person and conducted in small groups.

Fire-prevention and inspection calls through the end of May total up to 230 – with the reopening of patios accounting for some of that.

In the building department, Burchat had statistics to share for the month of May as well as the year to date.

During May, 16 building permits were issued (including those for three new dwelling units) with a construction value estimated at more than $1.1-million.

For 2021 though the end of May, 177 permits were issued (21 of which were for new dwelling units) with an estimated construction value of more than $11.6-million – and bringing the town more than $212,000 in revenues.