A $37.7-million plan to expand and upgrade Simcoe County’s headquarters still won’t fix some of what ails the county: poor sound and sight lines in the council chambers, particularly for those in the public gallery.

The preferred option to expand Midhurst administration centre, constructed in 1972, features two new wings, plus a renovation to the front-entrance area, just outside the council chambers.

It costs substantially less than constructing a new building, $108.9 million, but slightly more than continuing to lease space and upgrading the headquarters’ front-entrance area; all costs listed are portioned out over 25 years.

“We should start explaining to our residents why we need it. It needs to be explained to our populace so we’re not into a Taj Mahal situation (as was the case with the Simcoe County District School Board headquarters next door),” said Severn Mayor Phil Sled.

County staff and consultants reviewed four options, including doing the addition in two phases (which would cost $55.3 million), constructing a new building ($108.9 million) and continuing to lease space while renovating the headquarters’ reception area ($22.25 million).

The plan to expand the headquarters focuses on L-shaped additions, which would join together the wings of the existing building to create a more modern building, add office space and create interior courtyards. Done at once, the entire project would cost $37.7 million, but if the project were split into two phases – one in 2011 and a second in 2021 – the cost rises to $55.3 million.

The current admin centre is in “average” shape, as compared with buildings of similar age, the county’s property director Dawn Hipwell noted, and steps must begin on a long-term solution to accommodate the county’s staff, which is growing at a rate of 10 people per year.

Although its reception and council chambers area was upgraded almost 10 years ago, the county still receives a lot of bad reviews from the public who attend meetings.

“Quite often, I hear from people trying to take photos that it’s very difficult, (because of) lighting,” said Warden Tony Guergis, adding he also hears complaints about poor sound.

The reception area is not easily accessible for those with physical disabilities. Barrier-free public washrooms need to be added to the council chamber area, as well as ramps to the main entrance.

The building does not have an elevator serving the area, and an electronic stair-lift helps those in wheelchairs up to the second floor, where they can enter the council chambers’ public gallery. The county building also needs a public gathering space, so people can talk after meetings with politicians and staff.

Parking is also a critical point; most of the centre’s 245 parking spots are taken by 225 staff