MD to build a new administration building?

Chris Davis

At their Thursday, December 15, 2011 meeting, MD Council voted unanimously to move forward in 2012 with a proposal for a new MD administration building, to be built adjacent to the MD Public Works yard in Pincher Creek. Approximately two years ago the MD began looking into options for a new or renovated building, paying for preliminary work for architectural and design evaluations.

A document received by the Pincher Creek Voice last week outlined the deficiencies of the present MD offices, located at 753 Kettles Street.   The MD has been in that building since 1964 when it was built.  The document indicates that to renovate the building council would be obligated to bring the it up to the present safety code.


Access for residents topped the list, including the lack of good handicap access to the building, washrooms, and meeting rooms, and Council Chambers not being set up for those with hearing impairments.  Lack of sufficient parking is also of concern.

Health and Safety concerns mentioned in the document included an outdated ventilation system that results in cold washrooms and warm meeting rooms, an air conditioning system that needs replacement, sewer and plumbing issues, narrow stairways that do not meet modern Building Safety Code, asbestos in the building, and insufficient washrooms for the capacity of the downstairs meeting room.

The staff lunch room was mentioned as being inadequately equipped and too small to provide for the needs of the MD staff.

The present Council Chamber is also seen as being inadequate to the demands placed on it.
The cramped gallery is often full, particularly during public hearings, some Councillors must sit with the public at their back, and press are in the gallery with the public. In addition, Councillors have no private area to facilitate councillor separation from the public and administrative staff have no writing surface to work on in the chamber.

The present building does not meet the IT requirements of a modern Council and the physical document and server electronic storage of information are inadequate.

The document states that the new proposed structure would accommodate all MD staff within one building, with departmental staff in closer proximity to each other, enabling a more efficient organization and improving teamwork.   It also says the existing building is not capable of housing the administrative needs of the organization in the mid to long term.