Janice Griffith
On Monday Aug. 11, Council held an all day workshop to bring all members of Council completely up to speed on the issues the Health Task Force has been working on, including the new Medical Centre. Community members Cal Taillefer and Cora Lethbridge as well as Council appointees Paul Addie and myself presented the work and status of projects; including the nurse practitioner application, the county-wide model for primary health care, doctor recruitment, visits to other health centres, the medical centre, the fundraising feasibility study and how all of these initiatives fit together. John McDonald, doctor recruitment and Marshal Elliott, community development, both with the GPAEDC presented from their perspectives, the importance of these initiatives. Tim Powell, Chief Building Official, reviewed the condition and limitations of the existing Medical Centre. Questions and comments were received from the gallery. At the end of the day, all members of Council were in agreement that the project should move forward, and that an architect should be engaged to provide a conceptual design and preliminary costing to that design. It was agreed that the architect should also inspect and give opinion on the existing building, as to the viability and financial efficiency of achieving our goals through renovation and addition rather than building new. There was further full agreement that the planning stages for a capital campaign should begin. At Council meeting on Wednesday, August 13, the following motions were passed. That Council proceed with receiving quotations from architects or other design professionals to prepare a design concept and cost estimates for a new medical centre on McFadden’s Road and provide a professional opinion on renovating the current medical centre. Recorded Vote: Councillor Addie - Yea; Deputy Reeve Griffith - Yea; Councillor Smith - Nay; Reeve Tanner - Yea. Carried. That the Health Task Force Committee proceed with the planning process of a Capital Campaign as set out in Months 1 & 2, Appendix G of the Feasibility Study prepared by The Goldie Company. Recorded Vote: Councillor Addie - Yea; Deputy Reeve Griffith - Yea; Councillor Smith - Nay; Reeve Tanner - Yea. Carried. Council has recently received test results on the soil on McFadden Road site. No contaminants from previous uses are present. We anticipate that the architect will require further testing as to suitability for providing support for a basement and foundation before he will finalize his professional advice to the township. One thing is certain. The competition for medical practitioners is fierce. To be successful, we have to have more to offer than our outstanding quality of life. A larger modern medical facility will go a long way to giving us the needed edge. |