Grey County Council has awarded a $2.16 million contract to Domm Construction Ltd. to design and build a new paramedic services base in Feversham, a key step in expanding emergency response coverage in the southeast part of the county.
The new facility, to be built on County-owned land at 494740 Grey Road 2, is part of the Paramedic Services Comprehensive Deployment Plan, which aims to improve response times and meet rising call volumes.
Director of Paramedic Services Kevin McNab stated that the project will enhance emergency coverage in the southeast, enabling paramedics to respond more quickly to emergencies in rural areas of Grey Highlands and surrounding communities.
"That area right now is probably, I think, our closest base to the Feversham area is 21 kilometres," said McNabb. "So this will definitely enhance that response in that area. And again, that's balancing out, you know, a low call volume versus a large area to cover."
The bid from Domm Construction came in above the County’s approved $1.6 million budget for the project.
"The bid costs from DOM come in over budget,at $2,155,000 or $2,192,000 with HST," McNabb explained. "We're predicting the professional fees to be around $200,000, so that makes the total cost of the project $2,392,000, which is an overage of $786,100."
However, staff have identified about $200,000 in potential cost savings and will continue working with the contractor to find additional efficiencies during the design-build process.
The project will be fully funded through debenture financing, as approved in the County’s Paramedic Services Capital Plan. Updated costs will be included in the 2026 draft budget. The higher construction cost will increase annual debenture payments from $114,000 to about $169,800 over a 25-year term.
Grey County’s overall enhancement plan for Paramedic Services, which also includes future bases in Ayton, Thornbury, and Cobble Beach, will see a modest increase in annual funding needs, rising to $431,100 per year between 2026 and 2034.
The County is currently finalizing the land transfer with the Municipality of Grey Highlands to prepare for construction. Once complete, the new Feversham base will serve as a modern hub for paramedic operations in one of Grey County’s fastest-growing service areas.
