By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The new Chatham-Kent Community Hub in downtown Chatham is a go.
At the Oct. 20 meeting, council voted 14-4 to accept a bid from Fortis Construction Group Inc. to build the complex – the final approval needed prior to starting work.
Approval of the tender caps two years of preparatory work, paving the way for construction to begin this December.
The new Hub will repurpose the old Sears building to combine the Chatham library branch, the Chatham Museum and the C-K Civic Centre under one roof.
Following a lengthy discussion, deputations and a staff Power Point presentation, several councillors expressed relief that a decision was finally reached.
Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor, longtime chair of the municipal budget committee, said information from administration regarding the hub’s finances is the most extensive he’s ever seen on a municipal project.
“We’ve taken the time to ask those questions and we’ve gotten the answers and it makes me feel confident about the project,” he said. “A lot of us were waiting to see this night because, at the end of the day, it has to make fiscal sense for Chatham-Kent and the municipality. It’s really clear that it does now.”
Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew spoke in favour of the project, noting that putting it off will just cost more in the long run.
“I hear a lot of excitement for the project and excitement for our community,” Crew said.
“I’ve been here a long time and I’ve seen these projects get kicked to the wayside and there will be another day or a better day…The better day never comes because the money is always more.” She also spoke about municipal staff.
“We have a very confident and trustworthy staff who have done everything we have asked. They have answered every question in every which way imaginable and I really appreciate their patience,” she said. “Sometimes I felt like people were saying they weren’t telling the truth and that they weren’t trustworthy. I look forward to this becoming a reality.”
West Kent Coun. Melissa Harrigan also chimed in, saying administration has done a great job delivering information about the hub to council.
“This report is very reassuring to me,” Harrigan told council.
Prior to the final vote, council considered a motion from Chatham Coun. Alysson Storey to postpone making a decision on the hub, saying lifecycle costs haven’t been factored in and the information is necessary to make an informed decision.
The motion failed 14-4 with councillors Storey, Rhonda Jubenville, Michael Bondy and John Wright voting in favour.
Storey said that while the vision around the hub is great, the money may not be there to realize it, noting she brought the motion forward due to concerns raised by constituents.
Based on the reports, Storey said she believes the municipality can’t guarantee there won’t be tax increases and cuts to rural services, such as library services, because of the project.
In speaking to a possible request for more information, the head of infrastructure and engineering said staff has delivered a comprehensive detailed analysis.
According to Edward Soldo, the Hub project has engendered an “elevated” sense of responsibility amongst municipal staff.
Chief financial officer Gord Quinton said that in his 30 years with Chatham-Kent, the Hub proposal has undergone the highest level of scrutiny he’s ever seen on a municipal project.
The project’s contingency fund (currently at $7 million), how the debt will be debentured, and the hub’s positive impact on Chatham-Kent ‘s asset management plan were also discussed.
The Fortis bid of $39.2 million (including HST) came in under budget from the original estimate of just under $43 million. Overall, the budget for the project is $52.8 million, with some contingencies built in for tariff-related expenses.
The plan calls for the sale of the King Street Civic Centre and the library building on Queen Street. Completion of the Hub is slated for the first quarter of 2028.
