By Shelby Wye [1]
QUINTE WEST – A Quinte West man says he is concerned that the planners for a proposed $21-million public-works building haven’t done enough research.
“I think (the planners are) looking at a lot of specific things, but I think they’re forgetting the big picture,” Jeff Brophy, who has a background in mechanics, said during a public meeting about the project held Wednesday at the Quinte West council room.
The new consolidated facility would create a central hub where all the works vehicles and supplies could be kept. That central location means that trucks and plows would have to drive out to the wards and then make their way back, putting more mileage on the equipment, Brophy noted.
“You’ll be very surprised at the replacement costs for the fleet,” he predicted, adding that he wants the planners to consider finding studies on what more wear and tear will mean for the $16-million public-works fleet.
Ten people attended the public meeting, each with their own concerns about the project. A presentation by the building’s planners, VG Architects, was held, outlining the project’s advantages and comparing the costs of maintaining the current buildings with the costs of building a new one. The presentation was in favour of building a new consolidated building.
Another worry that some residents expressed was the risk of increased response time in emergencies. One citizen commented that changes to the buildings should be about safety of the entire municipality, not just the convenience of the public workers. The previous setup of several buildings across the municipality was supposed to ensure that there would be a vehicle at the right place for the right time, the residents said.
Chris Angelo, Quinte West’s director of public works and environmental services, said his crew monitors the weather closely, which allows workers to be out on the roads before emergencies even take place.
“We’re not expecting any decrease in response-time quality,” he said.
Mayor John Williams said he was taking Brophy’s comments seriously, and requested that Angelo and VG Architects find a study on what extra wear and tear on the fleet could mean for taxpayers and their dollars.
Quinte West council will be voting on whether to go ahead with the building at its next meeting, on Dec. 16.