Niverville Town Council has announced it’s intention to purchase the Horizon Livestock Building on Bronstone Drive, just north of Highway 311.

Mayor Myron Dyck says the Niverville Town Office is completely full, with council meeting at the Niverville Heritage Centre because their council chambers were turned into more office space. He notes in addition, both the Public Works and Fire Departments will need more room in the near future. He notes the Horizon Livestock building could fill those needs.

"That business is consolidating and vacating the building and so the town inquired about it. We have a tentative agreement that has been accepted for purchase of the building. It is for an amount of $1.6 million and then we have a tax receipt of $300,000 to finish that deal."

Dyck says the town has arranged to pay for the building over three years so that they do not have to borrow money or raise taxes. He notes the property is in the ideal location.

"It is located directly beside our current Public Works and Fire Department’s shared building so there could be some synergies that could exist by having three all on the same lot and with our Fire Department and our Public Works Department also being growing entities, we see this building being able to suit more than just administrative offices."

He says the goal would be to eventually have those three departments all operate out of those two buildings with either Public Works or the Fire Department sharing the Horizon Livestock building with administration, opening up their shared building to be filled by just one department.

Dyck says even with necessary renovations to the building, council sees this plan as the most efficient way to solve their space issues with neighbouring municipalities spending many more millions on brand new facilities such as the Ste. Agathe Fire Hall. He notes quite a number of residents have expressed concerns about cost, the need for such a building, and the time of their scheduled public hearing but council plans to address these concerns.

"We are holding the public hearing in the morning as our standard first Tuesday of every month is a morning meeting. We are having an information meeting now, August the 28th at 7:00 P.M. at the Heritage Centre. Those that thought the morning was an issue because they would be at work or otherwise, if they come to the informational meeting we will be able to present what we are planning on doing. We will be able to take questions if they wish."