A September 2025 image of Grey County paramedic base in Durham. (photo supplied by Grey County)
Grey County council gave the green light to staff to apply for a loan from Infrastructure Ontario to finance new paramedic bases in Durham and Feversham.
County council resolved during its committee of the whole meeting Thursday to authorize staff to apply to borrow up to $4.4-million, which would be paid off over 15 years.
“After last year’s budget process, the county has no debt. So this would be the only debt on the books,” Grey County’s Interim Deputy Treasurer Garrett Reed says.
Reed says the new Durham paramedic base was substantially completed in September 2025. The project ended up costing $2.75-million, slightly under budget.
The $2.4-million paramedic base being built in Feversham is expected to wrap up by the end of this year, or by early 2027.
Staff recommended a 20-year term for the Infrastructure Ontario loan the county is applying for, but council passed an amendment from Owen Sound Deputy Mayor and Grey County Coun. Scott Greig to pursue a 15-year amortization instead to save an estimated $774,000 on total interest costs.
“I’ve always been in favour of not paying any more interest than I had to,” Chatsworth Mayor and Grey County Coun. Scott Mackey says.
According to a past Bayshore Broadcasting report, Grey County’s long-term capital and operational plans include consideration for new paramedic bases in Ayton, Thornbury and Cobble Beach as well.
“The way our 10-year capital plan is built now, all the future bases will be debt financed as well,” Reed tells councillors.