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The proposed addition is to be built to the left and in front of the
Kincardine Community Medical Clinic
Still reeling from the proposed $5-million addition to the Kincardine
Community Medical Clinic, council has decided to sit down and discuss
the project with the architects who came up with the idea.
During committee-of-the-whole Oct. 8, councillors again admitted being
surprised at the huge expansion and high price tag presented by Parkin
Architects of Toronto.
Councillor Marsha Leggett said she and councillor Gordon Campbell were
part of the committee that chose the architect but she was away when the
"wish list" was brought forward by Parkin. "I would like council and
the public to know that we met with Parkin and they received the amount,
$2 million, which we planned to spend on one building that was 10,000
square feet in size," she said. "Now, we have multiple buildings at a
cost of $5 million. I think we should go back to Parkin and tell them
what we asked for and tell them to go back and see what they can come up
with."
"We sure got an eye-opener," agreed councillor Randy Roppel, adding a
committee should be struck to deal with the medical clinic addition and
elected officials should be on that committee.
"We need a watchdog on this," said Campbell. "If the information doesn't
come to council, how are we to make a decision?"
Mayor Larry Kraemer said Parkin was given a task to collect information
about what the medical community wants pertaining to design and usage of
the addition to the medical clinic. "We asked for 7,000 to 10,000 square
feet on one floor, but it grew to 14,000 square feet," he said.
Councillor Ron Hewitt agreed with Roppel's idea of a committee to bring
forward options for council to review.
However, deputy mayor Laura Haight said if a committee is to be struck,
council must set up the parameters for it. She also was taken aback at
the size of the project as presented by Parkin.
"We're not medical professionals," said Kraemer. "We're trying to
enhance the attractiveness of our community by providing a good building
for our medical community in order to serve our residents." He said
the idea of a Family Health Team set up in the lower level of the
medical clinic is a bit premature, given the clinic is only at
60-per-cent capacity. "Where's the hurry of setting up a Family Health
Team?" he asked. (next column)
13/01/2009 04:24 PM |
(continued)
Back entrance to the Kincardine Community Medical
Clinic Roppel said there is usable space in the basement of the clinic but the
doctors are not interested in using it so it's dead space. "We have an
opportunity to build for the future," he said. "There is a cost but
there's a bigger cost if we have no doctors in town. Then we won't need
a medical clinic or a hospital. If we get to that point, we'll be the
fools."
Kraemer said the deficiencies in the lower level of the current facility
have been corrected and the space can be used. Mould was found in the
basement but it has since been removed and the lower level fixed up.
"I think the architect should go back to what we originally wanted,"
said councillor Guy Anderson. "We need a committee to bring back
pertinent information."
Councillor Mike Leggett disagreed, saying a committee is a waste of
time. "Let the medical community sort out what is needed and then it
goes to corporate services (committee) for a decision."
"Council's input is basically here's how much money, where the addition
is going and the size," said councillor Kenneth Craig.
"This would be a good project to put in for the new federal/provincial
funding program (Ontario Building Canada Fund)," said Roppel.
"We have not had a good discussion with the architects," said Kraemer.
"We should do that and clearly declare our expectations for the cost and
size of this project. Then they can go to the medical community and
figure out how to do this. We have to find some middle ground between us
and the medical community."
Council agreed to have a discussion with the architects about the
project.
The proposal by Parkin would see a 14,000 square foot addition on two
levels with offices for 12 doctors, 30 examination rooms, a 2,000 square
foot waiting room, patient washrooms and a nursing station. It would
expand the clinical support and administration areas, provide a
lunchroom, staff room and lockers. It would also include retail space of
up to 4,200 square feet for McKechnie Pharmacy, which was forced to
leave the lower floor of the existing clinic.
 
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