Planning begins for a new residence
Both the mayors and administration for the counties have lots of questions they want answered about the future of the PrescottRussell Residence. But first they need to get the province to approve funds for future planning work.
“The first thing we have to do is apply for this $250,000 (planning) funding,” said Stéphane Parisien, chief administrator for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR).
Parisien gave counties council a verbal summary, during its March 8 session, of discussions, he and his staff had with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care during the recent Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) conference. The focus of the discussion was the Residence, and what kind of help the UCPR can expect from the province to either upgrade the aging facility or build a new seniors’ retirement care home.
“In the end, if we are approved by ministry, the UCPR fronts the whole cost of the construction,” Parisien said, adding that the counties could then apply, later, to the province for partial reimbursement.
“These details need to be confirmed,” he mentioned .
For now, Parisien noted, there is a planning assistance fund of up $250,000 that the counties can apply for while it is continuing its research. He added that the UCPR still has to decide whether it would be better to build on the existing Residence site or see another location in either Prescott or Russell county, depending on the number of living units required, which is also subject to provincial approval.
“If you rebuild it, the (approval) process is very easy,” he explained. “If you build it elsewhere, the process is more complicated.”
Parisien noted it could help the counties to consult with administration at Hawkesbury & District General Hospital (HGH) for their expertise in facility planning, given the recent expansion for HGH.
The Prescott-Russell Residence has served as a supported care retirement home for many senior residents from all parts of Prescott and Russell counties.
The aging structure has undergone renovations and upgrades over the years but may now have reached the point where it does not meet all current provincial standards for senior and long-term retirement facilities.
Counties staff have been reviewing options for dealing with the Residence situation, including further renovation to the existing structure to building a new facility.
Les maires et l’administration des Comtés unis veulent obtenir des réponses aux nombreuses questions concernant l’avenir de la Résidence Prescott-Russell. Mais il faut d’abord que la province approuve les fonds pour les futurs travaux de planification.