Mayor and members of Council gathered yesterday morning at 110 Kawartha Lakes County Rd 49 in Bobcaygeon to initiate construction on a state-of-the-art mechanics facility. This facility, set to revamp fleet maintenance for the Public Works, Fire, and Recreation and Facilities departments within the Municipality, marks a significant milestone.
The roots of this project can be traced back to a 2015 Feasibility Study conducted for the Municipality. The Municipality’s assortment of facilities has grown organically over the years due to amalgamation and the continued delivery of localized services, leading to the obsolescence of several aging facilities.
To tackle this issue head-on, the Municipality commissioned a Strategic Facilities Master Plan, offering recommendations for the next two decades. The Bobcaygeon Public Works Depot, as the oldest Municipal storage facility, was deemed the first candidate for replacement.
The existing facility is a single-story structure housing an office with two workstations, a lunchroom, mechanical room, washroom, storage room, and five vehicle bays, along with two sand domes.
The new facility, which will serve as a shared space for Public Works, Fire, and Recreation and Facilities departments, will include an additional two bays and a wash bay, greatly enhancing operational capabilities.
In addition to the ongoing project, the Municipality maintains Public Works Depots in Buckhorn, Cavendish, and Galway.
Construction is projected to conclude by November 2024, with the total estimated project cost standing at 9.3 million dollars. Leading the construction efforts is MVW Construction and Engineering, with Greer Galloway providing essential Project Management support. This endeavor promises to usher in a new era of infrastructure and service efficiency, benefiting both residents and municipal employees.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)