Council office building delayed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 235, 15 March 1988, Page 1

Council office building delayed

The planned extensions to the Ohakune Borough Offices have been delayed. The Waimarino District Council Steering Committee decided at

last Tuesday's meeting held in Raetihi to leave the decision on office accommodation to the District Council. District Manager John Murrihy has also been asked to evaluate the two council buildings

in Raetihi, for suitability as District Council Offices. He said part of this job would have to be to evaluate the cost of upgrading the Raetihi offices. He estimated the floor

area of the two Raetihi offices to be greater or at least similar in size to the Ohakune offices with the planned extension. There was much debate at the meeting on whether the money

promised by the local government commission to cover amalgamation costs would in fact be forthcoming. Many councillors called for assurances that the $50,000 promised to cover amalgamation expenditures would actually be available. Mr Murrihy said the only assurances were the ones already given and the only firm assurance the committee could get was for the commission to give the money. He said they would not do that until the extensions were built. "I set out the situation and they said 'yes, $50,000 guarantied'," said Mr Murrihy. Cr Ellen Gould then moved that the committee accept a quote recommended by building inspector Mr Des Sutton. Cr Jones said the council would be short about $25,000. "What are we going to do to raise $25,000?" said Cr Jones. "I don't think we've applied ourselves to the financial side in any shape or form." Mr Murrihy said it was possible the rest of the money would be available from the government because of special circumstances. Chairman of the meeting, Ohakune Mayor Bill Taylor said that perhaps the committee Turn to p. 17

Council building delayed !

From front page should put a case forward that the Waimarino amalgamation was a greater need because three authorities, not two, were combining. But I would imagine we would not get that even quoted in writing from the local government people until the actual expenditure is made," he said. "But that's what worries me Mr Chairman. There's no guarantees despite what Mr Murrihy has told us," said Cr Workman. Cr Taylor asked if Mr Workman didn't think the council would get the money and he answered: "not necessarily." Cr Gould: "We were assured that we would" An unidentified councillor: "Bollocks." Cr Gould: "Yes we were." District decision Cr Workman said he couldn't see the need to make a decision at that time and i sked why the District Council couldn't make it. Cr Sue asked if council had in writing confirmation of the availability of the money. Cr Taylor answered saying that the only assurances they had in writing are those in the Minister of Local Government's handbook on local authority amalgamations. "Mr Chairman the steering committee was set up to make recommendations to the District Council and I feel that this building proposal is something for the District Council to decide itself," said Cr Heinold. "I would move an amendment that the decision on the extension to the building in Ohakune be left as a decision for the District Council," said Cr Heinold. "I would doubt that the mover of. the original motion would see that as an acceptable amendment," said Cr

Taylor, "Councillor Gould?" "No, I don't," said Cr Gould. She said she understood from the meetings with Mr Elwood that they should act quickly. She said if the committee waited the money may not then be available. "If we could get an assurance that we've got $50,000 it would be very simple to make a decision," said Cr Jones. "They don't do that. They've given us all the assurances they're going to give," said Cr Gould. Ohakune debt Cr Workman: "One thing that has come through to me from ratepayers is that there is still a large amount owing on the existing building. People are talking to the tune of $100,000, I don't know but the question they're asking is what the hell are they thinking about spending another $70,000 or. $80,000 for more extensions. That is the feeling out there and I'm inclined to agree with them." At this point Mr Murrihy asked Town Clerk Hope Vaughn about a discussion she had with Mr Elwood recently "I had a chat with Mr Elwood on Saturday night. I told him the building was a contentious issue, and about the $50,000. He said you would most probably get it," said Mrs Vaughn. Cr Taylor: "I don't know whether $100,000 is still owing on the administration building loan. Which I must point out was not only for that building, There's also the old BNZ building." "I would think that the likely additional expenditure of anoth,er $25,000 by the three co-joined authorities is hardly a very large amount. I would think it's a damn good investment if nothing else," said Cr Taylor. Cr Bennett: "I really

do think that this is a decision for the District Council and in the interim I would like an evaluation to be made of the two Raetihi buildings either jointly or separately, making use of the ones we've got." After referring to another amalgamating authority's claim Cr Compton suggested: "It might be practical in this instance to approve in principal the costs concerned subject to authorisation from central government of approval of an estimated quote value." Cr Taylor called for support to this suggestion and when none was forth coming, Councillor Gould's motion was

put to the vote and lost. Cr Heinold then moved that, "the decision on the additions to the building in Ohakune be left to lie on the table to come forward to the District Council." The motion was carried. Cr Bennett then moved, "that in the interim the two buildings in Raetihi be evaluated for their suitability as offices for the District Council." After some discussion on the end use of the Raetihi buildings if they are not used by the District Council Cr Compton said: "Who is going to do the evaluation and at what cost."

"It was my intention that the District Manager would look at the suitability of the building" said Cr Bennett. "I can't see that the District Manager wouldn't have already done that," said Cr Gould, "or he wouldn't have produced the plans for the Ohakune Offices to be extended." Mr Murrihy said he would need to spend money on an evaluation and that he was not sure that he was the person to carry out the evaluation in the depth that council were looking for. The motion was put to the committee, seconded by Cr Tom Punch, and carried.