The long-awaited accessibility ramp to the Stratford Police Service’s downtown headquarters has been approved under budget.
At the Sept. 4 Stratford city council meeting, council approved the under-budget tender for the ramp at $162,607, including HST, from Uniqueco Building Restoration Inc., the lowest bidder.
Council had previously approved a capital expenditure of $200,000 for the ramp during its 2024 budget deliberations.
It was originally intended to be a permanent concrete structure, but given the potential renovations which may occur at the 17 George St. W location, council thought it prudent to cut costs and approve a temporary structure instead. They reduced the original budget of $275,000.
Tim Wolfe, community services director for the city, had previously told the accessibility advisory committee (AAC) that if renovations occur at police headquarters and the temporary metal ramp is no longer needed, it may be moved and used at a different facility.
In addition to the installation cost, the City of Stratford consulted with Artas Engineering & Design Inc. to design the ramp and barrier-free entrance, which the AAC subsequently approved, at a cost of $11,000.
The remaining $43,000 of the budgeted funds will be transferred to a reserve fund for future capital-expenditure requirements. Costs to maintain the ramp will be incorporated into the annual operating budgets.
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