Is there a need for a new police building in North Bay?

That is one of three recommendations before the Police Services Board.

It’s contained in a report on the current building condition and an assessment into the future.

The cost of a new building, the report says, is $17.5 million.

The other recommendations are to repair the current building at either a cost of $9 million or $15 million depending on the scope of the repairs, which is based on how long the building would be used.

Chief Shawn Devine says there’s concern the building in sinking.

“The front half, which is on Princess Street, was built on solid rock. The back half, which was built on Victoria Street, is built on a different material. You have a building that is settling in two different areas is really what is happening,” he says.

Devine says part of the building is resting on walls that weren’t designed to be support walls.

As well, he says there is no fire suppression system in the building and the electricity bills are quite high at over $15,000 a month.

Devine says the building was constructed in 1974 and the last major work done was in 2000.

Filed under: police building, Shawn Devine