At a meeting on February 16, the RM of Ritchot’s council proposed a plan to expand their municipal administration offices in St. Adolphe.

“We have the opportunity to develop the civic site adjacent to the municipal office,” said CAO Mitch Duval. “We have received funding that’s significant in nature, so we can start developing the civic site. However, we would also like to look at an office expansion in conjunction with the civic site as we’re going to do this once and do it right.”

Duval cited numerous benefits to expanding the municipal offices. All are related to the municipality’s significant growth in the last 40 years since the building’s contruction.

Between 2011 and 2016, the population of Ritchot grew by 22 percent. The recent census shows the population grew by another 12 percent between 2016 and 2021.

In 1981, when the offices were built, Ritchot had a total the population of just 4,200. Now that number is 7,469, an increase of 75 percent.

Duval said that he believes this trend of growth will continue based on the building projects that are already in the works. He points to the Tourond Creek Development in St. Adolphe and Grande Pointe Meadows and Deer Ridge in Grande Pointe as examples.

“The proposal for the office expansion would also include an incubation area,” Duval added. “We’re hoping to include three spaces of about 250 to 350 square feet to be part of the building. This would enable economic development opportunities in the municipality.”

The expansion would almost double the office’s current square footage.

Duval has recommended a budget for this project of $3 million but believes it can be done for $2.5 million.

According to the RM’s proposal, this project is to be paid for out of the general reserve fund—which Duval says means “no borrowing, no debentures, no tax costs to the ratepayers.”

It is expected that the general reserve fund will be replenished within four years.

Duval also pointed out that the funding for this project will be part of the upcoming financial plan. A public hearing will need to be held in order to approve that financial plan.

Mayor Chris Ewen suggested that perhaps the public hearing on the financial plan could include an open house aspect so residents can get as much information about the expansion as possible.

If everything falls into place, council hopes for a late September 2022 start for construction.

The proposal was unanimously approved by council.