Expansion Plans for Kincardine’s Medical Centre have hit a snag.
Debate was underway on adjusting the project’s budget when Councillor Marsha Leggett said that she, along with several other councillors recently received telephone calls.
Those calls stated medical centre staff and doctors were not pleased with the proposed design because it wouldn’t shorten the walking distance to the hospital.
Staff would also be inconvenienced when the addition is being attached to the existing building.
Leggett says finding that out now is quite frustrating, especially when the project is very close to going ahead.
She won’t say who made the telephone calls but says it’s the fact that the information arrived after council has already done so much for the project.
Leggett says council is tired of giving now.
CAO John de Rosenroll says a meeting was held between medical centre staff and the architect and the doctors were satisfied with the design at that time.
He says information will be released soon about a possible expansion of the Kincardine Hospital, and the layout of that expansion could possibly reduce the amount of space between it and the medical centre.
De Rosenroll says to minimize disruption to doctors and staff, connecting the new addition with the existing building would be done in phases.
Five other councillors received phone calls, but Deputy Mayor Laura Haight did not.
She says it was disappointing that not all members of council were contacted but says if there are concerns — now is the time to discuss them.
Council has decided not to approve the increase for the estimated construction budget to 2.6 million dollars to include the installation of a backup generator.
Staff suggested the actual cost will end up being lower than that amount.
The next 30 days will be spent to meet with medical centre staff and doctors to resolve concerns.