Chatham-Kent will have to dip into their reserves to pay for additional changes to their recently built fleet garage in Chatham.
The funds were needed to finish up the building and make the garage operational.
There will be additional costs of $643,197, which will be taken from the municipality’s reserves, to complete the construction.
The $4.5 million fleet garage consolidated two former locations into one new centralized location.
In 2020, council approved the construction of a new Fleet Garage and approved a tender for $3.8 million.
Councillors questioned why there were extra costs beyond the original tender.
COVID-19 is being blamed for extra costs due to unforeseen work delays, stoppages, supply shortages and inflationary increases.
Some of the extra charges, for things like furniture, fixtures and equipment (hoists, air compressor, power washers) were not included in the original tender.