Work on new animal shelter starts October 1

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a report made to a special council meeting Tuesday morning, clerk Debbie Leroux said work on the new animal shelter is scheduled to begin next week, with full construction beginning in December.

Leroux said the Township will be approaching the construction in a different way than previously considered. Instead of hiring a single general contractor to handle the entire project, the project will adopt a trade-by-trade procurement model.

Leroux' report said each trade (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing, roofing, etc.) will be contracted and managed directly by the Township as well as a hired construction/project manager. Leroux said that will allow for greater cost transparency, potential savings and improved scheduling flexibility.

The early work will involve site preparation such as a driveway cut-in to allow vehicles and equipment to enter the site on Lake Ridge Road, excavation and site preparation, including installation of footings and foundation.

The report gave the following timelines for construction of the shelter: preliminary work will commence on Oct. 1; completion of trade pricing comes Nov. 15; final budget approval is expected Nov. 30; full construction will start Dec. 15, with substantial completion expected in December 2026.

Leroux said a preliminary allowance of $170,000 is needed, with actual expenditures to be tracked and reported. She said this is not the full project budget but a limited allocation for defined critical early-stage tasks.

Mayor Dave Barton said local tradesmen will be hired where possible.

Councillor Willie Popp said "this is something we've been looking forward to for a long time."

Council passed all the report's recommendations unanimously.