On June 7, 2016, Grey County Council selected a contractor to build an addition and renovate areas of the Grey County Administration Building in Owen Sound. Devlan Construction Ltd. submitted the lowest bid of $10,643,000, well within the project budget. The build will be self-financed by borrowing from the county's reserves.

One of the driving forces behind the project is the need for a new Provincial Offences Court. The court has been below standards for years and has many issues related to accessibility, safety and the age of the building. The court will move into the main administration building under the new design. It will be safer and much more comfortable for the public, Justices and other stakeholders.

In addition to the court, provincial requirements for service delivery have increased Grey County's need for space. Staff, council and consultants have thoroughly explored several options to meet this demand. Council supported the addition and renovation as the best solution for the County's current and future needs.

"It's exciting to officially say Grey County is building a more accessible and efficient head office," said Grey County Warden Alan Barfoot. "Grey County serves the public. We need spaces that are inclusive for everyone who uses our services or visits us."

Under the Municipal Act 2001, large construction projects need to be publicly tendered and awarded to the lowest qualifying bidder.

"We're very happy with how the public tendering process worked out," said Warden Barfoot. "We felt confident with our cost estimates going in, but you can never be totally sure what the bids will look like. Fortunately we saw a number of competitive bids."

Devlan Construction Ltd. will be informed of Council's decision and will then provide a project timeline. Construction is expected to begin this summer.

"We'll be working closely with the contractor over the next few weeks to figure out the best way to proceed with construction while minimizing the impact on services," said Anne Marie Shaw, Grey County's Director of Housing. "Grey County provides a long list of essential services and it's critical that we keep everything running smoothly."

source: media release, County of Grey