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Expansion planned

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Mar 24/06) - If construction plans go smoothly, staff from the Acho Dene Koe First Nations and the Hamlet of Fort Liard will be sharing a building by the end of the year.

An expansion to the community office is part of a building project planned by the hamlet. The hamlet is also looking to build a maintenance garage and add an additional bay on the fire hall. The three buildings are being grouped together for tender with proposals due April 7.

The planned extension on the south end of the community office will expand the building’s floor space by 75 to 85 per cent of its current size, said John McKee the senior administrative officer for Fort Liard. The building will have space for 12 staff with additional room for visiting government departments.

Chief Harry Deneron said the band decided not to take on the cost of constructing their own building as originally planned.

“We’ve always worked very closely with the council before,” said Deneron.

The band office is currently housed in an old nursing station.

“It’s an old building but it did us well,” he said.

The plans for the expanded building include a cultural centre.

Such a facility is something the council has talked about for awhile, said McKee. At one point the old Northern store was considered as an option, but it would have been too costly, McKee said.

Part of the beauty of the idea is that no extra staff will be needed because the centre will be located just off the main lobby in the community office, he said.

The centre will be used to preserve historical artifacts from Fort Liard together with local crafts. Details for the design of the centre and how the items will be displayed haven’t been decided.

“Our first step has been concentrating on getting the buildings done,” McKee said.

Building the maintenance garage is the first priority, said McKee. He hopes to have a building with three bays and an office finished by October so the equipment can be placed inside for the winter.

The hamlet has been renting space and storing the vehicles outside for a year since the old building was torn down.

“Luckily it’s been a warm winter,” said McKee.

An additional bay will also be added to the fire hall for a support vehicle. As the community expands there is a need for more equipment for fires, explained McKee.