Blind River’s CAO Kathryn Scott is recommending broadening the scope of work to determine the status of municipally-owned facilities.
It was a motion by Councillor Steven Wells in March calling for staff to prepare reports on the structural conditions of facilities owned and operated by the town and include costs of repairs for each individual facility and what may be involved in longer term repairs or total replacement.
The motion, “instructed administration to review the advantages and disadvantages of renovating existing municipal facilities, to explore options for future replacement and amalgamation of municipal facilities, and to provide council with regular reports.”
In a report to council at its meeting Tuesday evening, Scott reported that assessments and discussions about some facilities has been done by and an engineer and planner.
Scott said with an overall plan, staff could develop a plan for costs of replacement or repairs of facilities and amalgamation of services. It would also give staff an opportunity to explore grants to offset the cost of repairs or replacement.
In a related matter, council approved spending $5,300 to upgrade the heating system at the courthouse after it was determined parts could not be found to repair the existing 25-year-old furnace.
“I do agree with this (recommendation from staff), it’s an important building and it’s an important service in there,” Coun. HP Roy said. “We want to keep that service within our community.”
It was also found, according to Scott, that the courthouse building is in need for replacement of rotting windows and required work on the walls.
A presentation from the planner and engineer is expected at the Sept. 16 council meeting and will include policies in the town’s asset management plan and service delivery plan.