A couple of Boundary politicians say the potential cost of a new administration office for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary in Grand Forks make the project a non-starter.
Since 2023, the RDKB has been looking at different scenarios to either build a new office, renovate and expand the existing one, or buy and renovate a different building.
The last cost estimates, presented to the board in April, suggested a new build would be the cheapest option at $15.8 million. A renovation and expansion of the existing office could cost $16 million, while the purchase and renovation of a different building would be over $17 million. In their last report to the board, staff recommended a new build.
The matter was discussed at the Grand Forks council table today when councillor Rod Zielinksi asked rural Grand Forks regional director Linda Kay Wiese how much of the tab the City of Grand Forks would be expected to pick up.
Wiese responded that she wasn’t sure what the city’s involvement would be. However, she indicated the price tag is too high, especially given other issues she finds more pressing.
“I have residents whose properties flood because there is no money for diking,” she said. “I have residents who go without all sorts of bylaw services because there is not sufficient money. I cannot get other directors to approve new services for my residents because it costs too much. I am not inclined to spend $17 million on any sort of administrative building.”
Wiese pointed to the new Rossland city hall, which has municipal offices on the ground floor and housing on the upper levels, indicating she would be more likely to support a project along those lines. The City of Rossland contributed $3 million toward the build, which cost $16.4 million overall.
“Even if times were good and we all had healthy bank accounts, $17 million for an administration building in Grand Forks is silly,” Wiese said, adding that her concerns about cost need to be balanced with maintaining an administrative presence in the Boundary. The RDKB’s head office is in Trail.
“There’s no way $17 million is ever going to pass public scrutiny for an administration building,” said Grand Forks mayor Everett Baker, who also represents the city on the RDKB board. “If [there is] potential of doing something as they did in Rossland, involving housing, with the lower part being administration, I can see having that conversation.
“But as Linda Kay has said, money is tight. Directors have made that quite clear to staff. These kind of numbers can cannot continue to increase and service decrease.”
Wiese said meetings are expected in the fall to look at cost saving measures within the RDKB as well as visioning for the future of the Grand Forks office. The current office at 2140 Central Avenue was built in 1969.
