Lacombe City council held a grand opening recognizing the completion of the $10.8 million operations facility in the Len Thompson Industrial Park.
City staff have now relocated from the former public works facility next to City Hall and have begun serving residents from the expansive new facility, according to a release.
"Council is thrilled to see this critical infrastructure completed," Mayor Grant Creasey said. "After an extensive development phase and successful construction, residents will now begin to see the benefits this modern facility offers. I want to thank our contractors, architects, city staff, and everyone who helped successfully deliver this facility to Lacombe residents.”
The budget included a combination of provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding and additional borrowing.
The final cost came after the City held workshops with a Value Review Committee, which included third-party reviewers, members of council, and senior administration.
Based on these workshops, the City identified the core elements of the facility while also finding opportunities to reduce the cost. The result is a building that meets the needs of operations staff while allowing for potential expansion to deliver new or changing functions.
The facility will house the City's operations, engineering and parks staff, with space and amenities to continue serving residents for years to come.
The approved budget includes a $91,929 public art allocation that the Lacombe Art Collection Committee used to support a project located in the lobby of the new facility.
