Staff with the County of Renfrew are moving forward with service delivery improvements at the administration building at 9 International Drive in Pembroke. Director of Development and Property Craig Kelly says they currently have development and property, tourism, administrative services for paramedics, public works, engineering, finance and human resources at this location. He adds the building will be renovated to accommodate another 40 staff members from social services department including Renfrew County Housing, Ontario Works, child care and provincial offenses.
Kelly says they are trying to keep the cost of the project under $3.75-million dollars. Work is expected to go out to tender in January or February with a completion date of June 2020. The county is applying for municipal modernization funding to help pay for the project. Kelly says the current county building is almost 30-years-old and with the renovations they will try to make everything more accessible.
Ontario Works will be the first new tenants to move in on May 1st, 2020. As a part of the planned renovations at the county building the health unit will be moving out. The new location for the Renfrew County and District Health Unit will be 141 Lake Street in the downtown core of Pembroke as of July of next year.
