The dire state of Renfrew’s Public Works garage continues to be a major talking point at Town Council.
Public Works Director Andrea Bishop followed up on a January report on the state of the Lisgar Avenue building from CAO Gloria Raybone on Tuesday to provide a detailed list and photos of issues that have been long plaguing the facility, some old enough to have been part of budget discussions back in 2005.
Bishop points out that repairing the building, which was first constructed back in 1962, would require a substantial investment, adding that the outdated structure will still need major maintenance even after the extensive renovations it needs right away.
The most recent assessment of the garage laid out a pricey forecast for the repairs required to keep the structure upright, including a full roof assembly set for last year that had to be postponed due to budget concerns.
Councillors continued to express their dismay over the state of the public works garage, with Jason Legris noting that he thanks crews who have to put up with problems that even he was aware of dating back to his high school co-op experience at the building.
Fellow Councillor John McDonald noted that the project has their full attention ahead of budget talks.
Council is expected to get their first look at a draft budget for 2025, including money set aside for capital projects, in the coming weeks.
(written by Kasey Egan)
