The County of Renfrew has invested $4.9-million dollars into renovations at the administration building in Pembroke.
A ribbon cutting for the reopening of the facility was held earlier this week (August 25th, 2021).
Warden Debbie Robinson adds the $4.9-million dollars will be recouped within 7-years through savings realized from moving everyone into one building.
Earlier this year, treasurer Jeff Foss told members of county council approximately $465,000 would be saved each year as a result of the service delivery improvement project.
The 16-months of renovations brought all county services together under the same roof.
Emergency Services, Community Services, Development and Property, Public Works and Engineering, Provincial Offences Administration and Courtroom, Corporate Services and County Council are now all located at 9 International Drive in Pembroke.
The province provided $900,000 through the municipal modernization grant and MPP John Yakabuski says this is exactly what they were talking about in terms of finding ways to operate more efficiently.
Director of Development and Property committee, Craig Kelley, says about 110 staff are now working out of the building including 45 new faces and he adds a lot of local contractors were involved in the work.
Warden Debbie Robinson says any time they had the opportunity to hire local, they did.
Robinson says the one counter approach for county services will be much easier for local residents to get the help they need without having to run around to different locations.
Robinson says nobody lost their job as a result of the move and any positions eliminated were through attrition.
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Merrilee Fullerton, who was also in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony, says this is an excellent example of how realizing the vision for better service delivery will improve the experience for both staff and the clients they serve.
New reception area at the County of Renfrew administration building in Pembroke
New lunch area at County of Renfrew administration building in Pembroke
Office space in the newly renovated County of Renfrew administration building in Pembroke
County of Renfrew council chambers
County of Renfrew administration building renovations for the service delivery improvement project.
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$4.8-million price tag for renovations at County of Renfrew administration building in Pembroke
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