Heavy rain, coupled with a faulty roof drain, has wreaked havoc on the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
That has officials asking residents to conduct municipal business over the phone or online, if possible.
According to a municipal media release, the past weekend saw significant water damage on the first and second floors of the King Street building. Carpets, ceiling tiles, computers, office equipment and furniture on the centre’s west side were damaged beyond repair.
However, disaster restoration commenced Monday and workers are still on site.
Customer service, Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue and building services staff whose areas were not impacted by water damage remain at the Civic Centre, but all other staff have reassigned to remote work.
The recent flood is the latest issue facing the deteriorating building that dates back to 1975. According to numerous administrative reports, the structure is in dire need of expensive multi-million upgrades.
Mayor Darrin Canniff said it’s “no secret” that extensive repairs and revamps are needed at the Civic Centre.
“This is an aging building and this recent event is yet another example of the need to find a long-term sustainable solution that benefits both the community and municipal staff,” the mayor said.
In the interim, said Canniff, “administration is doing everything they can to get things cleaned up and ensure both the safety of the public and their continued access to our services.”
