County councillors have approved a tender to convert the former Fergus OPP station into a social services outlet even though the final cost went over the $350,000 budget.
Social services committee chairman Gord Tosh said the tender came in “very close to estimates.”
CRD Construction Limited, of Guelph, was the lowest of 10 firms competing for the work, at $342,000, but that does not include taxes at 13 per cent.
The social services committee report noted that when architectural fees and miscellaneous other fees are counted, the total cost is $416,000.
The committee recommended the county treasurer be authorized to transfer $66,000 from the social service reserve fund to cover the difference, and that the county include the capital cost of the project in its coming development charges background study.
The work on the building will include:
– partial office demolition;
– full demolition of concrete block walls at holding and jail cell areas;
– reconfiguration of the front offices and addition of new barrier-free washrooms;
– a new employee gym;
– refinishing of existing change rooms and washrooms;
– re-use of existing electrical and mechanical systems where possible; and
– re-use of existing furniture where possible.
Tosh told council the new building will allow the county to serve a large part of its population with social services in downtown Fergus.
Those clients would be forced to make their way to Guelph otherwise, and Tosh said social services recipients will be better served closer to home.
Council approved the change from a police headquarters to a social services centre at its meeting last April. The county OPP had earlier moved to a new headquarters in Aboyne and social services will take over the old station at 321 St. Andrew St. W.
Eddy Alton, the head of social services, has told county council there are a number of requirements to meet the regulations for such an office.
One is that the office would have to serve a minimum of 240 clients to ensure at least three or more caseworkers are assigned there to provide adequate coverage during vacation and sickness. The building must also be on or close to a major transportation route.
The building must be big enough to serve clients and have a secure reception area.
Alton said in his report in April that 332 clients of the current 429 are from the central and northern part of the county, so that criterion is met.
“It will be evident from a review of the current county Ontario Works clients that almost one quarter reside in Fergus and Elora,” Alton reported.
“An Ontario works office in Fergus will provide convenient local services for these clients. A Fergus location will also provide more convenient services for residents of the Townships of Mapleton and Wellington North, as well as the Town of Minto.”
The proposal will require a move from Guelph for a manager to oversee the Ontario Works and Immigrant Settlement and Adaption Program, four caseworkers, two ISAP workers, a part-time clerk for both programs, and back-up in reception, for a total of 7.4 positions. That means new hiring equivalent to 1.9 full-time jobs.
When it moves employees into the old police station, county council also creates a second gym for employees.
Council approved a recommendation from chief administrative officer Scott Wilson in the administration, finance, and personnel report.
Wilson said the current gym at Wyndham Street in Guelph is very successful and staff want it expanded to include Fergus, in the back end of the old police station. It would be part of the county’s health and wellness program for employees.
Wilson noted in April that over one-third of county staff work at Wellington Place, just outside of Fergus, and a gym in the town would “help equalize the availability of the health benefit to county staff. It is estimated that the initial membership at a Fergus location would be 50.”
Wilson said financing and repayment of the Fergus gym would be the same as the partnership for the Guelph one. The county provides the space and staff provide the equipment.
