Minto council has accepted, just barely, Wellington County’s decision to demolish the existing OPP building here.
Councillor Ron Elliott’s motion to request the county reconsider plans to demolish the building was defeated by a 4-3 margin in a recorded vote at the Dec. 17 meeting. Elliott and councillors Rick Hembly and Dave Turton were in support, while Mayor George Bridge, deputy mayor Terry Fisk and councillors Mary Lou Colwell and Ron Faulkner were opposed.
At the Dec. 3 council meeting Elliott told council he was upset to learn about the planned demolition. Elliott suggested the property should have been offered to the town, or for sale to a private developer, rather than simply being torn down without notice.
Following discussion at the Dec. 3 meeting, CAO Bill White prepared a report on the county’s plans for the building, which was presented at the Dec. 17 meeting.
The report notes the building was opened as the new Town of Palmerston municipal office and provincial courthouse in 1975 as a 100th anniversary project, and a plaque at the site recognizes that fact. Wellington County acquired the building for $227,000 in 1999 for the OPP station and the offices will be soon be relocated to a new OPP building at Teviotdale.
The brick-over-concrete-block building in Palmerston has two stories and a partial basement. It contains slightly over 6,800 square feet of office space over two floors. There are 4,500 square feet on the main floor and 2,300 on the second floor.
“The building is typical of institutional buildings of that era designed to be functional for the time but without the architectural detail of many of the earlier era buildings in the downtown core. It contained administration, police and fire for the Town of Palmerston,” White states in the report.
Appraised at $340,000
“The county’s appraisal values the land and building at $340,000, substantially more than the $60,000 the town paid for the Harriston Senior School or the $30,000 paid to the Rotary Club to relocate the Clifford ball field. The assessed value of the property is more than twice the appraised value of the lands,” the report points out.
White told council that while they don’t want the building, the county prefers to retain the land for possible future use.
“Without a willing seller, there is no way of acquiring it at a low price,” he pointed out.
Elliott said, “I think it is a great asset with the building on it,” and maintained his position the town should either acquire it for resale to a developer or convince the county to offer it for sale. He contended it makes more sense for the county to “give it away” than spend the estimated $60,000 to tear it down. He also stated he has spoken to contractors who suggest it will cost closer to $100,000 to demolish the building.
Bridge noted when the county purchased the land at Teviotdale they paid the town the assessed value of $188,000 for the land.
“I don’t know how we can expect them to give us a deal on it so we can flip it to a developer,” stated Bridge.
Fisk said he has “mixed feelings” on the issue.
“I personally feel we have too much real estate now and to add to our inventory at any cost makes no sense,” he said. However, he added, “we as a council should have been notified,” of plans to dispose of the building.
Hembly suggested council needs to have some trust the county will eventually develop the land and suggested subsidized housing as a possible future use for the site.
“We have to put a little faith in our people,” agreed Turton.
“The county retaining the land will ensure Palmerston remains a priority for future county uses which will benefit the town in the future,” noted White.
