The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2008-07-10, Page 28It didn’t come easily but a decisionto proceed with renovations to thetop floor of the assessment office inGoderich to house the planning department is going ahead. The big problem was the fact that the quote for the project at $468,000 plus GST was well above the budgeted amount of $250,000. “We were concerned when this was significantly over,” said chief administrative officer Larry Adams. “We have two options. Councillors can decide to go ahead and utilize funds through the treasury or receive the report and forward it to the warden’s task force to seek direction. We have been kicking this around for a while.” Council had last year approved a capital funding allocation from the one-time OMPF funding. This amount was based on an average cost of $50 per square foot of floor area. In addition, unspent OMPF funds from 2007 for the elevator installation and HVAC upgrades totalling $62,500 were recently transferred to the facilities capital reserve with the intent of reallocating them to the renovation. The planning department also has $120,000, intended for office furniture not included in the tender price. Leftover money from this can be allocated for such things as telephone, data and security systems. Councillor Dave Johnston of Bluewater expressed irritation with the initial assessment. “This puts us in a difficult position. We need to know what this is going to actually cost. I agree we should proceed butnot to be told later that we needanother $50,000.”The strategy for the buildingbegan in 2007 with improvements toprovide barrier-free access withinthe building and in turn, to utilize the upper floor as commercial office space. The first phase was completed last year. The planning department has outgrown its existing office area in the basement of the court house. Councillor Bernie MacLellan of Huron East wondered if there would be more coming to council if they approve this. “It’s mentioned that other departments are looking at the basement to use. I’m concerned about the piecemeal approach here. I’m not saying it’s wrong to expand, I just don’t like not knowing where we’ll end up at the end of the day.” Director of planning Scott Tousaw said that it had been recommended by the warden’s task force that should the planning department vacate the basement office space that the county see if the could “entice court to rent” the space. “If not, there are county departments eyeing it up.” Councillor Ken Oke of South Huron spoke in favour of proceeding. “Two years ago we were going to sell this building. It’s a good building and we need space. We have a lot invested already to be questioning now if this is the wrong way to go. There’s only $130,000 difference, between what we have and the quote, in a building that’s probably worth millions.” Councillor Deb Shewfelt of Goderich agreed warning against waiting. “It could come back to biteyou.”Treasurer David Carey however,pointed out that the $120,000 fromplanning was not intended for therenovation, but for furniture andservices. “If the $120,000 goes to construction,” agreed Tousaw, “we’ll have people using card tables. But there is overlap included.” He explained that the estimate for furniture is $32,000, leaving the remainder for extras and the work itself. Asked if there would be income coming through usage of the basement space, facilities manager Sandy McLean said they have beenworking to get an answer on this. “Itwould be our hope that the courtswould take the space, but we can’tguarantee at this point.”The process is subject toprovincial review, however there are rumours they are looking for a fourth courtroom. Shewfelt said that currently they are holding court in various buildings. “If we had proceeded with this in 2003 we wouldn’t have lost that.” Re-iterating that there has already been considerable investment in the building, Oke said he would rather see the work proceed, even if the planning department had to wait tomove in. Costs he said would onlygo one direction — up. Bluewater councillor JimFergusson said he was concernedabout return on that investment. “Itcould be 10 years before we see a return. It doesn’t seem to be a good investment to me. Timelines for the contract became a concern, however when a motion was made to defer the issue until committee of the whole. It was defeated. A recorded vote was called on the motion to proceed. This carried with 12 in favour and six opposed. Two councillors were absent. Getting the word out, in more ways than one, about the Good Food Box was brought up at county council’s July 2 meeting. First Huron East councillor Joe Seili responded to the report included in the agenda with dollars and cents. “Two reports tell us how good it is, but not what it’s costing the county.” The Good Food Box is the central program of the Huron Perth Farm to Table Network, which is a group of community organizations with shared concerns about access to local, healthy food and the overall decline of agriculture. Through the Good Food Box, which relies soley on volunteers, residents are provided with local vegetables and fruits monthly. Buying in large quantities from local producers, allows people to get produce at a better price. According to the report from community developer Janice Dunbar, the operational expenses are primarily paid for through a $2.50 charge included in the price of each $15 box. Expenses include building rental, van rental, gas, and supplies and refreshments for volunteers. Funding through the Take Heart Huron program for 2007 was $4,000. This covered printing costs, supplies, program evaluation, volunteer recognition and certificate to low-income families. Responding to Seili, Dunbar said the cost not covering by the purchases, is approximately $6,400 annually. South Huron councillor Ken Oke put “fuel to the fire”, asking if it wasn’t right that a portion of that $6,400 is subsidized. Dunbar said that was true, agreeing with Oke that the cost to the county is closer to $2,000. Bluewater councillor Jim Fergusson said when he attended the recent Community Matters conference he heard many comments that people weren’t aware of the program. “I think we good do a better job of marketing it.” Huron East councillor Bernie MacLellan agreed. “If only a few are aware we need to discuss what we can do,” he said, asking that it be included on the committee agenda. County office renovation costs more than plannedPAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2008. County wants the word out about Good Food Box program at the Friday, July 25th 6 pm Food Available — Brussels Legion Brussels Ball Park 7 pm Fastball Tournament — Brussels Tigers Brussels Ball Park 7 pm Volleyball Tournament at Optimist Club House 6 to 9 pm Used Book Sale at Melville Church Annual Brussels FUNFEST Saturday, July 26th 7:30 to 10:30 am Breakfast —Brussels United Church 7 am - ??Car Boot Sale Downtown Brussels 8:30 am & on Tiger Ball Tournament Continues Brussels Ball Park 9 to 11 am Soap Box Derby Sports Drive and Thomas St. 9 am & on Food Available — Ball Park By the Brussels Legion 10 to 5 pm Used Book Sale Melville Presbyterian Church 9 am to dark Volleyball Tournament Optimist Club House Morning Informal Show and Shine Brussels Dam (for all cars/bikes) 11 am Beer Gardens Open —Brussels Ball Park 1 pm Euchre Tournament —at the Legion 1 to 4 pm Music on the Street at Cinnamon Jim’s 1:30 pm Continuation School Memories Brussels Legion 8 pm to 12 am Brussels Legion Dance (for mature dancers) 9 pm to 1 am Dance (River Junction Band) BMG Community Centre Sunday, July 27th Times are estimated. Watch for further ads. 9 am & on Fastball Tournament Ball Diamond 11 am Multi-Denominational Church Service Conservation Area 12 noon Beer Gardens Open Brussels Ball Park 1 pm Water Events —Brussels Dam 3 pm Duck Races — Brussels Lions Club Brussels Dam - conditions permitting Tickets $5. ea or 3 for $10. 5 to 7 pm Anglican Church Pork Chop BBQ Brussels Arena All Day Volleyball Tournament Optimist Club House 3 pm Tournament Championship Games start Contacts: Chair — Wayne Lowe Water Events & Volleyball — Jason Crawford and Marc Fischer BBQ — Bev Palmer 519-887-9439 McCutcheon Motors Ball Tournament — Doug McArter Legion Dance — Brussels Legion BMG Dance — 519-887-6621 Show & Shine — L. Machan 519-887-6952 Soap Box — G. Pipe 519-887-6291 Book Sale — D. Blaney 519-887-2664 Tickets available soon from each event co-ordinator By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen