Construction on new R.M. office begins

The first phase of construction has started on a new office building for the Rural Municipality of Meadow Lake.

Installation of water and sewer lines is currently underway. R.M. administrator Gina Bernier said she hopes to have ground breaking for the building’s construction in April 2017.

“We’re in the preliminary design stage and the new council is meeting with the architects and project managers at the end of the month to give more direction on the construction,” Bernier said.

Initial designs will include a higher fire safety rating to preserve records.The current building doesn’t have proper fire security measures according to Bernier.

The current R.M. office has 2,400 square feet, the new office is projected at 5,200 square feet, out of that, Bernier said 1,200 will be the boardroom and emergency command centre.

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Bernier added the additional space has some councillors considering renting some space out for offices.

While not giving an exact price tag on the building’s construction costs, Bernier said funds were reserved over the years and council expects to borrow up to $1.5 million from ratepayers.

“We don’t intend to spend it all on the office. I’d say the million dollar mark would be sufficient,” she said adding the building will have a minimum 50-year life span.

Ideally, construction will be completed by Dec. 1, 2017.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.