Council building planned

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 234, 8 March 1988, Page 3

Council building planned

Extensions costing about $70,000 are on the drawing board for the Ohakune Borough Council offices.

The extra space is for staff of the new Waimarino District Council. District manager John Murrihy wants all administration, financial and engineering staff and inspectors to be housed in the same building. He told the district council steering committee that he w a s convinced of the need for his whole team to be under one roof. He gave communication as the main reason. He said it was important to remove the need for duplication of some services and to foster coordination and direct and open communication between departments, residents and ratepayers and management. Debate But when his request for permission to obtain prices for the extensions and alterations was discussed, there was much debate over it. Finally, however, the request was approved. The decision to build has yet to be taken. Mr Murrihy presented plans of the extensions and a report backing up his request. The design was simple, he said, so that at the end of its usefulness the addition could be sold as a house or a block of offices. The building would blend with and compliment the existing complex. Some minor alterations were also necessary to the exist-, ing council offices toi make better use o f space and provision for computer facilities. While it would cost about $70,000 the council could obtain a grant of $50,000 from the government as part of a local government amalgamation incentive programme. Further funding support might also be available

under the heading of "office upgrading". "However, provided that the final cost does not exceed the estimate, the district council's contribution will be a maximum of $20,000," he said. In his opinion this amount would be quickly used up due to communication and coordination problems caused by not proceeding with the project. If approved, he hoped progress could be made so that the extensions could be completed before amalgamation. Commenting, C r Gavin Jones asked whether the grant would be available in six months if the project was delayed. Mr

Murrihy said it had to be applied for within 12 months. Cr Con Heinold, county chairman, said he wondered whether some staff could stay at Raetihi. He asked how much contact the staff needed. But he agreed that ultimately all staff should be under one roof. Impracticable Mr Murrihy said it would be impracticable to split, say, inspectors from the main office because they needed access to building and planning files. Chairman Garrick Workman, Mayor of Raetihi, said he did not want to be parochial but it seemed ludicrous that the council had three buildings and two would be under-utilised. Cr Taylor said that

was inevitable. The extensions were wise and necessary and may well cater for future needs for a long time. When the motion approving Mr Murrihy's request was opened for discussion, Cr Tom Punch, a Raetihi Borough Council member, asked whether a computer link between the offices in Raetihi and Ohakune would suffice, enabling staff to b e split. Mr Murrihy said there would be a computer link anyway, because it. was necessary for administration purposes. There was considerable discussion over the floor plan of the additions and alterations and Cr Jones suggested that a subcommittee look at the plan before it was finalised.

Mr Murrihy objected and said the matter was apurely functional one V that should be dealt with by the people with expertise in it. "I don't believe it's a policy matter but a management function," he said. Cr Workman said he did not think the meeting shared that view. Cr Heinold moved and Cr Punch seconded a motion that several councillors meet with staff to look over the plans. The motion was passed with only Cr Taylor voting against it. Cr Workman said he wanted Mr Murrihy to inquire further about funding available for the project. Mr Murrihy said the government would not commit itself beyond the $50,000 and all the council could do was apply for more. After the meeting the plans were looked over by several councillors and a slight modification to the plans made. The modification was to allow easier public access to the engineering and inspector's offices.