A report will soon be public, highlighting all the finances of the proposed Chatham-Kent community hub.
The polarizing project is currently having final designs completed after CK council approved moving forward with the centre in October.
Council also asked the municipality's administration to bring back a detailed report highlighting the expected costs of the project versus what it would cost to renovate the Civic Centre, Library, and Museum. This report is expected to be up for discussion at council's May 12 meeting.
For a couple of CK councillors, this report is long overdue.
"I don't think there's been enough information provided in a financial regard, there's too many unanswered financial questions and I'm not comfortable moving forward with a project that I don't have concrete financial answers to," said Rhonda Jubenville.
Her concerns are echoed by Michael Bondy who had made a motion to have a report like this brought before council in April. It was ultimately thrown out since the municipality's administration is currently working on the May timeline.
The two told CK News Today they don't understand how the prices to create the hub and renovate the current buildings were calculated. Right now, the project is expected to cost around $53 million, while the renovations are estimated to be anywhere between $37 million and $45 million.
Bondy specifically mentioned if you calculate the costs of the projects per square foot, the renovations are far more expensive. At current costs, the hub is estimated to be priced at roughly $444 per square foot while the price of renovations is hovering around $850 per square foot at the low end and over $1,000 at the high end.
Bondy also believes these prices will go up.
"With inflation and now we're living in this tariff war world, that all has to be factored in so I don't think the numbers are going to be the same. I don't think they can be," he said.
The municipality has refuted this concern, claiming last October that the project wouldn't cost taxpayers more money than what had already been approved.
Meanwhile, there are some on CK council who remain optimistic about the project.
Councillor Brock McGregor explained to CK News Today that he understands why the new hub would be useful.
"We know we have a library that's aging, inaccessible, and outgrowing its space. We have a museum that is small and challenging to navigate. And a civic centre that's aging and requires very significant renovations," he said.
McGregor added he's looking forward to seeing the report.
At this time, he's not 100 per cent committed on whether the project should move forward but any decision he makes will be one he believes will be best for the municipality.
Any decision on moving forward with the hub isn't expected to happen when the report is brought before council.
Jubenville said she plans on making a motion to allow residents to speak about the report if it's not already allowed by the municipality.
