The Chatham-Kent Community Hub construction contract has been awarded to Fortis Construction Inc.
During Monday night's Council meeting, Council did not pass a motion brought forward by Councillor Allyson Storey, and instead voted to pass a motion moving forward with the mega project.
Storey was hoping to defer the project until council could recieve another report concerning more lifecycle costs that the hub will incur.
When discussing Storey’s motion, many councilors noted that the report she was asking for included financial information that had been in previous reports, but Storey says it's disappointing.
“It's clear we do not have all the financial information to make an informed decision. We do not have the staffing costs, full stop,” said Storey. “We are making a decision on the most expensive proposal in our community's history without all of the financial information, I think it's a reasonable expectation, when you're looking at doubling or tripling the size of municipal facilities, without the increase in operating budgets, how that's going to impact those budgets.”
Councillor Melissa Harrigan voted to pass the motion that awarded the construction contract, and said it feels good to have a plan going forward.
“I think it's been two years of deliberation for this specific initiative, but really it's been over 8 years of deliberation around what it is that we're going to do with the civic center specifically,” said Harrigan. “I'm really confident in the staff report that was given and really look forward to 2028 when we can walk through those doors for the first time.”
The approved motion includes the $43,619,068.53 construction contract, as well as $875,685.03 for consulting services.
Council discussed naming rights and how there is very strong potential for donations that may lower the cost of the project.
The construction is set to begin in December and the doors are expected to open in the first quarter of 2028.
