RIDEAU LAKES — Rideau Lakes council has directed staff to prepare a full close-out report on the new Fire Station 2 after confirming the document presented on Nov. 10 was not a complete accounting of the project and did not include all costs.
The report was produced after resident Judy Rogers submitted a letter to council on June 6 requesting a breakdown of project expenses, including land purchase, construction, temporary facilities, borrowing and insurance proceeds.
Council directed staff on June 23 to respond to Rogers’ questions. A written report was prepared by Fire Chief and Manager of Community Protection Gene Richardson and included on the Nov. 10 committee of the whole agenda.
Several costs outlined in Fire Station 2 report
- $1.88 million — construction contract (including HST)
- $180,000 — land purchase
- $41,886 — environmental consultant report
- $86,600 plus HST — architectural design and construction administration
- $341,930 plus HST — temporary fire hall at the landfill site
- $50,000 — township buyback of temporary structure for storage
- $134,744.50 — paving
- $3,595 plus HST — cedar trees
Insurance proceeds related to the loss of the original Portland fire hall totaled $786,360.89.
The township financed the project with a $985,000 debenture over 10 years at an interest rate of 3.87 per cent. The land purchase was funded with $140,000 from the Development Reserve and $60,000 from the Working Fund Reserve.
The township’s approved 2024 capital budget lists $1.8 million for a new fire station, noting that the township expected approximately $790,000 in insurance proceeds. Based on the costs in the staff report, total spending on the project is approximately $2.7 million.
Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier told council the document was only a response to Rogers’ letter, not a full financial close-out report. Fournier said four staff members involved in the original project are no longer employed by the township, and new staff assembled information from archived files and minutes.
Coun. Sue Dunfield told council she has received multiple inquiries from residents seeking more detail, including soft costs and operational charges.
“There are still a lot of grey areas that have not been answered,” Dunfield said.
Coun. Paula Banks supported gathering more detail, noting that residents continue to ask her questions, as well.
The original motion referred to the document as a close-out report, but after discussion, councillors amended the motion to acknowledge it as a response to Rogers’ letter.
Clerk Mary-Ellen Truelove suggested that the matter returns on Nov. 24 to a closed session, where council may consider producing a full report and whether to release closed-session material.
Fournier advised council that closed-session records could be released if council votes to do so.
Council acknowledged the report as it pertained to the questions asked by Rogers, removing the term “close-out report,” which will come to a future meeting.
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