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Replacing Lacombe city hall could cost up to $12 million

City council approved $320,000 in upgrades to City Hall
lacombe-city-hall
Lacombe city council approved spending nearly $320,000 to renovate City Hall. (Black Press Media file photo)

A new Lacombe city hall is more than a decade away and could cost up to $12 million, city council heard on Monday.

City chief administrative officer Matthew Goudy said $2.5 million is allocated in the 10-year capital plan in 2034 for a new city hall.

When looking at other facilities in similar-sized communities, council could expect to have to put aside the same amount for an additional three or four years to pay for a new city hall.

"$10 million to $12 million is not unreasonable for some of these city halls," Goudy said.

Goudy provided his estimate as council debated whether to invest nearly $320,000 in upgrades to the city hall building, which the city bought from Lacombe County more than two decades ago.

The changes will see improvements to the areas used by the finance and planning and development departments. Public access will be improved and security upgraded with swipe access doors for city staff.

Diane Piché, city director of corporate and protective services, said security has not been a big problem but there have been a couple of occasions where members of the public have wandered in without authorization to talk to staff in their offices.

"There hasn't been anything where people have been violently threatened or anything like that," said Piché.

Coun. Don Gullekson was the lone vote against spending the money.

"I hate to put any more money into this building to be honest with you," said Gullekson. "Because the future of this (building) is certainly not long term."

Mayor Grant Creasey said city hall has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years but will need to replaced.

The money the city has spent so far on various upgrades is justified but he shares reservations about "lipsticking" an aging building.

"I struggle the same way as Coun. Gullekson does in putting money into a structure that certainly does not have a lifespan (of a newer municipal building.)

"However, I do also want to have a building here that represents our community well and also is up to a standard that we want for all of our municipal employees.

"I think that was an important ask as far as the security aspect."

Creasey said he could "somewhat reluctantly" support upgrades in the range requested.

"To suggest I'm totally thrilled about it would be wrong. But I also see the reasons why, and I think it is realistic."

Coun. Chris Ross also voiced misgivings, pointing out $400-$500,000 had been spent on upgrading the public works building, which was replaced several years later. The city celebrated the grand opening of the new $10.8 million facility in September.

"It was one of those decisions I can look back on that was not fiscally responsible."

Coun. Scott Dallas said this is the third time council has been asked to approve upgrades and it is not a "frivolous ask.

"As we much we maybe don't want to invest in a facility like this, it seems like we aren't doing anything to replace it or to find an alternative to invest in this facility."

If council turns down the upgrade request it better have a plan to replace city hall "in the very near future," Dallas added.

Coun. Reuben Konnik also supported spending money, pointing out the city has earmarked 2034 as the first year money starts getting put aside for a replacement city hall.

"But that doesn't mean it gets built then. We're going to be in this building for a while."

City council first looked at modernizing City Hall last year. Three designs were reviewed by council and one chosen. But all were over-budget so the project was put on hold.

The city worked with the designer to create a layout that fell within the original $562,000 budget.

The new design creates more functional space, with additional meeting areas, public access to services at one counter, a barrier-free counter for those requiring more support and better security.

Renovations are expected to take about three months.