Following months of debate, a majority of County councillors, on Aug. 27, voted in favour of spending $2.5 million to redevelop headquarters at 11 Newcastle St. in Minden, as well as do extensive work on the former Land Registry Office the County owns across the street at 12 Newcastle St.
In previous reports, director of public works Sylvin Cloutier had estimated it would cost $1.145 million for the current County office building, with $600,000 being for accessibility upgrades under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2025 (AODA). He has said 12 Newcastle St. would require $1.3 million, including moving the existing council chambers at 11 Newcastle St. across the road, exterior work, a lift, and AODA compliance.
At recent council meetings, councillors Murray Fearrey and Walt McKechnie, in particular, balked at the spend. They wanted staff to look at other options, such as expanding the current office building at 11 Newcastle St. and selling the former Land Registry Office.
In a report to last Wednesday’s meeting, Cloutier reported back on the possibility of an addition to 11 Newcastle St. and a valuation opinion on 12 Newcastle St.
He said they could add a 2,600-sq-ft twostory addition of 14 by 8.65-metres in the existing loading and parking area out back. He said it could have more meeting and office space, but no council chambers. He added they’d need a geotechnical study, and planning applications.
He said the addition would cost $2,489,737.28, and does not include a possible special foundation, at $200,000, furnishings of $50,000, and AODA of $600,000 for the rest of the building – for a possible total project cost of $3,139,737.28
Meanwhile, he said they got an opinion of $375,000 to $425,000 for the former Land Registry Office.
Staff asked council to approve their original ask from May 28.
It includes AODA compliance, converting council chambers and top floor kitchen to office space, washrooms, basement kitchen, storage and meeting rooms. At 12 Newcastle, there’d be AODA work, a new roof, new council chambers, washrooms, meeting room, kitchen, lobby area and entrance.
Deputy warden Liz Danielsen said council had, “gone through a lot of different considerations and looked at different options” and she was “still absolutely set on the staff recommendation that we proceed with what was proposed to us earlier on in the year, with the council chambers moving to 12 Newcastle St. and the improvements made to this building. I’m good to go with what was originally proposed.”
Coun. Bob Carter did not have an issue doing work at 11 Newcastle St, but said, “I do have a problem with across the street.” He said County council could use Minden Hills’ council chambers. He thought the former Land Registry Office could be sold to somebody.
Fearrey didn’t like the spend, “when people can’t even buy enough groceries.” He also thought they should wait for the results of the service delivery review. He disliked the suggestion to borrow money for the work. “We’re falling in the same rut the provincial and federal governments are in.”
McKechnie echoed Fearrey, saying it was “a lot of money at these times.”
But CAO Gary Dyke said “we’ve done the best we can, with the option the most fiscally responsible one we have.”
Coun. Jennifer Dailloux asked about sharing Minden Hills’ council chambers. Dyke questioned if it would be sustainable. Danielsen said she’d prefer the County have its own chambers.
In a recorded vote, Danielsen, Lisa Schell, Dailloux, Carter and warden Dave Burton voted in favour, with Fearrey, McKechnie and Cecil Ryall against.
Treasurer Andrea Robinson said they would have to borrow just over $2 million for the project.
