Heavy rain and a faulty roof drain caused significant water damage to the first and second floors of Chatham’s municipal civic center over the weekend, city officials say.
Carpets, ceiling panels, computer and office equipment, and furniture on the west side of the building were damaged beyond repair.
Civil Protection Services began cleaning up Monday and will be on site until these areas are suitable for operations.
With the exception of customer service, fire and building service personnel, whose work areas were unaffected by the damage, all other employees have been relocated to remote locations, city officials added.
“It’s no secret that the Civic Center has been in dire need of repair or replacement for some time,” Mayor Darrin Canniff said in a statement to the media.
“This is an aging building and this latest event is another example of the need to find a long-term sustainable solution that will benefit both the community and city workers.” what she can to put things right and ensure both the safety of the public and their continued access to our services.”
Due to the impact of the damage and because the clean-up process is ongoing, residents are being urged to conduct business over the phone or online as much as possible, city officials say.
The council meeting on Monday, July 10, 2023 is currently planned as a face-to-face meeting in the council chamber, but this could also change in the coming days.
sydenhamcurrent.ca
https://sydenhamcurrent.ca/2023/07/05/significant-water-damage-at-the-civic-centre-in-chatham/
