Smiths Falls would have to take on additional debt to replace the public works garage on Aircare Drive that caught fire in February, which was a hard pill for council to swallow.
While the table agreed the building was overdue for replacement well before the fire began, the numbers they saw Tuesday weren’t friendly.
Councillor Peter McKenna felt a decision before seeing next year’s budget would be foolish.
Staff provided a high level estimated cost to demolish the existing structure and build a new garage in its place of $10.6 million with a pricing contingency, but said this route would displace workers in the meantime and isn’t entirely feasible.
They recommended the second option, which would see a new structure built facing Walker Road and the existing building demolished only after the project’s complete, so it can be used in the interim.
Councillor Chris McGuire had concerns with that proposal, which included a fuel service stations for town vehicles priced at $500,000.
Director of Public Works and Utilities Paul McMunn said the second option presented staff wants such as a gas station, but not necessarily needs. While he didn’t have a cost report around a fuelling area, he did anticipate future cost savings as they’ll be paying for gas in bulk as opposed to retail, as they do now.
Councillor Jay Brennan said this project is a priority to him over a new arena and fieldhouse.
Council recently approved in principle a new arena to meet public demand, with cost estimates up to $49 million. They’re also still paying off about $2.5 million towards the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre.
The town’s also in the midst of a major trunk water main replacement, which was priced at $24.5 million in 2023 after rocks were discovered along the route. The replacement of the water tower also jumped from six to $10 million the same year due to inflationary measures.
Town Treasurer Paul Dowber told council they’ll likely have to increase their self-imposed debt cost ceiling if they were to move ahead on this project, but they still wouldn’t come close to the province’s debt limit, which is no more than 25% of a municipalities annual “own-source,” revenue.
Story by Grant Deme