The Citizen, 2019-06-13, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019.
Study needed for police building
With interest being shown by
external organizations looking to
use the former Wingham Police
Service building, North Huron
Council wants more information
before deciding the fate of the
structure.
The building was vacated by the
police service in February and,
according to a report from Director
of Public Works Sean McGhee, the
liquidation of remaining assets and
cleanup of the structure is expected
to be finished in the coming months.
Organizations like the Wingham
Cadet Corp have informed the
municipality they are interested in
utilizing the structure.
McGhee, in the report, said the
structure is currently being used
temporarily for the municipality’s
recently-formed parks and
properties group, but that isn’t a
permanent situation.
The structure was designated a
heritage building by the town of
Wingham in 1985, so any alteration,
changes or demolition must follow
the rules set out in the Ontario
Heritage Act.
McGhee presented five options to
council as to the future of the
structure; do nothing until the
building’s future has been decided;
rent or lease the building to an
external entity, making the
municipality a landlord and
responsible for the upkeep of the
structure; repurpose the facility for
municipal use, which could include
storage and records management;
sell the facility, though that will
require moving electrical
infrastructure from the building to
the municipal hall and, finally,
demolition of the facility, which
would require working through the
Ontario Heritage Act and relocating
the aforementioned power
infrastructure.
Currently, the former cells of the
police service are being used to store
records, McGhee said, and such a
use could continue.
McGhee recommended that the
first three options should only be
pursued after completing a Building
Condition Assessment (BCA) that
would help council decide the future
of the structure. The BCA would
cost several thousand dollars,
McGhee said.
Councillor Kevin Falconer asked
if the BCA would help to sell the
structure. McGhee said it could
highlight significant problems with
the building, which would then
need to be disclosed upon sale. “It
could show decent, significant value
for the structure, or it could show
concerns,” he said.
Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said if
the building was kept by the
municipality, it needed to be for a
value-added purpose, not just
additional storage.
“The capital cost to maintain that
building will be substantial,” he said.
“The minute you say heritage… the
dollar value goes up.”
He said the municipality, through
digitization, should be reducing its
storage space.
“We shouldn’t be storing boxes
and boxes,” he said. “We’re at the
point there should be one box for a
year.”
Seip went on to say that a BCA
would be the best way to proceed so
the municipality knows where it
stands with the building.
Reeve Bernie Bailey said he is
against demolishing the structure.
He anticipates the municipality
could sell it for at least $150,000,
even with a negative assessment on
the structure. He said if the BCA
couldn’t be completed this year,
nine months wouldn’t make a big
difference.
“Unless you tell me it’s going to
cost $15,000 to fix, it’s not worth
turning it into a parking lot,” he said.
“Buildings we get taxes for, parking
lots we have to shovel snow off of.”
Councillor Kevin Falconer
pointed out that many members of
council, himself included, have not
been in the building and it would be
difficult to make a decision on it
prior to that.
In the end, council decided to
allow the Cadets to use the building
after being assured there were no
immediate liability concerns.
Council directed staff to provide a
report on the facility and organize a
tour of the structure set up so
council could make an informed
decision.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Musical Muskrat mini fun
The Musical Muskrat Festival saw all sorts of great activities
brought to Wingham’s Riverside Park over the weekend,
including a miniature zip line, shown being enjoyed by Tyler
Walker, above, and a mini-golf course, shown below being
enjoyed by Malcolm Price. (Denny Scott photos)
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249 Josephine St.,
WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0
Serving the area
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Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222
#18
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12 Courthouse Square,
Goderich N7A 1M3
519-524-2773 1-800-265-5503
abcinvestments@gicinvest.net
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Anyone who purchases investments during the month of June is
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• Rates effective June 10th, 2019 • Minimum $10,000.
ABC Investments is a broker for more than 30 Banks, Trust Companies & Credit Unions.
We do not charge any fees for our services.
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Give us a call or stop in
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Fun and games
Families flocked to Riverside Park on Saturday for children’s
activities that were part of the Musical Muskrat Festival.
Above, Amber and Jacob Droppert who enjoyed a game of
giant Jenga. (Denny Scott photo)
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