Screen shot Nov. 8 council meeting on YouTube Channel, from left, CAO Lynn Phillips, Mayor Bob Crate and Director of Legislative Services/Clerk Doug Irwin.

Government Grants Paid More Than Half

More Offices, Meeting Rooms Created

HVAC, plumbing, security, electrical, all part of the Project

Article by John Campbell
Campbellford - It cost almost $825,000 to renovate the municipal office in Trent Hills but more than half — $416,166 — was paid for through federal and provincial grants. The rest came out of reserves, director of legislative services Doug Irwin said in a report to council Nov. 8.

“The renovation of the existing facility was determined to be a more cost effective and fiscally responsible decision [than] a new facility,” he wrote.

Irwin said “it had been a number of years” since any improvements had been undertaken at the building, “and various systems required attention, including, HVAC, plumbing, security, electrical, etc.”

The project’s costs encompassed construction ($458,600), furniture ($142,262) and filing equipment ($68,848), as well as expenses related to connectivity and cabling, upgrades to various building systems, and the relocation of staff and services to the Clock Tower while the work was being done.

More offices and meeting rooms were created along with a large, accessible customer service desk, and workstations were reconfigured into cubicles with appropriate barriers. Accessibility was improved in various ways, such as widening doorways and installing automatic door openers.

“As anticipated, there were a number of additional items that were either identified by the Building Department as being required, or were addressed while the structure was opened up,” Irwin said.

The additional items included the replacement of network cabling, security system wiring and detection devices, the implementation of a master key system for the entire office, and the resurfacing of the municipal parking lot “to remove trip hazards, enhance safety and ensure appropriate drainage.”

Councillor Cathy Redden, attending her last meeting of council after being defeated in the recent election, said she was pleased by the changes the municipality had made, “to bring us up into the real world.”

Responding to a comment “made earlier that that (was) almost like putting lipstick on a pig … in actual fact, it’s been a humongous facelift” that will meet the needs of both residents and staff, which have had “to put up with” the building’s “problems” for more than 30 years.

“I’ve had many people tell me that … they’ve been well served” when they go in and they like that “they can deal with their business in private,” she said. “We don’t have individuals standing and listening to somebody else having issues that they would like to keep to themselves.”

“I also have received many compliments about … how great the staff have been and how nice it is to have a small meeting room,” Councillor Rick English said.