The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is encouraging residents to conduct their municipal business by phone or online whenever possible because some sections of the Civic Centre in Chatham were significantly damaged during heavy rainfall over the holiday weekend.
Manager of Corporate Communications Eric Labadie said heavy rain and a faulty roof drain caused "significant" water damage on the first and second floors of the Civic Centre near downtown.
Labadie said all staff, except customer service, fire services, and building services staff, whose work areas were not impacted by the damage, have been moved to "remote" sites.
He noted carpets, ceiling tiles, computer and office equipment, and furniture on the west side of the building were damaged beyond repair, adding disaster restoration services are cleaning up and will be on site until the affected areas are suitable for operation.
At this point, the Council meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 is still scheduled to be in-person in council chambers, but that may change in the coming days, said Labadie.
“It’s no secret that the civic centre has been in dire need of repair or replacement for some time. This is an aging building and this recent event is yet another example of the need to find a long term sustainable solution that benefits both the community and municipal staff,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “In the interim, administration is doing everything they can to get things cleaned up and ensure both the safety of the public and their continued access to our services.”