The Municipality of Lambton Shores officially cut the ribbon on Thursday (May 25) on their new administration building outside of Thedford, following the consolidation of multiple offices including one in Grand Bend.
They hosted an open house, including tours of the new green facility, with dedicated committee and meeting spaces, a lobby, an official council chamber (complete with livestreaming capabilities), and a wide range of staff workspaces.
All staff have now been centralized to the facility at 9577 Port Franks Road. The previous offices in Grand Bend, Forest, and Northville have now closed, with no official word about what will happen to these buildings in the future.
“The construction of a central administration building with council chambers was an important step for our growing Municipality, and the grand opening was an exciting day for our staff, members of council, and residents,” said Mayor Doug Cook. “Not only does the new building provide improved municipal services, but it’s also a progressive net zero facility that we should be proud of.”
“Although the change resulted in the closure of the three original offices, having one central administration building provides a streamlined one-stop-shop experience for municipal services,” said Stephen McAuley, Chief Administrative Officer. “Having all staff in one building has also shown its ability to create a harmonized work force with increased collaboration between departments.”
The total cost of the project currently sits at $6.3 million, and is a combination of grants, reserve funds, and a loan.
Written by: B. Shakyaver