Huron County council will take another look at hiring a consultant to help with its facilities review.
CAO Brenda Orchard explains staff have done much of the ground work, but they need a consultant to help determine what the potential gains and losses might be in moving or consolidating some of their space.
Orchard points out the county has staff in the health unit building and the Jacob Memorial building behind Huronview, as well as several locations within Goderich.
She says there are advantages in consolidating those offices, and having staff in one location. The Jacob Memorial building is not efficient as far as use of space or energy, and the location south of Clinton is not convenient for the Social Services department.
Orchard also points out there are a few moving parts in the discussion. Talks between Huron and Perth about merging health units are on-going, and that would influence the amount of space needed for health unit staff, and MPAC has given notice it will be moving out of the Planning Building on Napier St. in Goderich in January. Both of those things will have budget implications.
Some councillors felt there are benefits to having some county offices or departments maintaining a presence in other parts of the county, but Orchard points out the various public works departments, as well as ambulance stations, already do that.
