The future home of The Blue Mountains OPP Detachment will be next to the Thornbury-Clarksburg fire hall.

Town council Monday approved a recommendation from the Finance and Administration Committee to approve the location and authorize staff to go ahead with detailed design, site preparation and a call for bids for a design-build proposal.

The recommendation includes a call for the bids to include options such as solar-powered hot water, insulation values in excess of the Ontario Building Code, and use of geo-thermal technology.

The proposed building would have an exterior design similar to the fire hall.

The property, at the corner of Clark St. and Grey Rd. 2, is destined to became home base for emergency services. Along with the existing fire hall and the planned police office, the possibility of a site for an ambulance station is also on the books.

The police office would be located just west of the existing fire hall parking area and would share the Clark St. vehicle entrance. Parking for the police office would be immediately behind the new building.

The proposed site for the 4,000-square-foot building (including a 500-square-foot garage)  has the support of OPP Detachment Commander John Trude.

"I would support this location as being a visible indication of the presence of the police within the community, and an easily-accessible site for the citizens of The Blue Mountains in the western portion of the town to access the police .... " Trude wrote in a letter to the town's Director of Building and Bylaw David Finbow. Trude added the site would allow for coordination of the town's emergency services.

Finbow's report adds that several other sites were considered but the Clark St. site was considered the best option.

The Blue Mountains detachment has shared headquarters with the Collingwood detachment, but there's not enough space in the Collingwood facility. Faced with the choice between erecting a new building in The Blue Mountains or paying for about half the cost of a new or expanded facility in Collingwood, town council decided to move the detachment here. The office would provide work space for 10 constables, a sergeant and an administrative support person.

The town's 2008 budget includes $500,000 for the construction project and another $25,000 for furniture and equipment this year.

About $85,400 will come from capital reserves set aside for a police office. About $176,000 will come from 2008 development charges with the remaining unfinanced costs to be paid out of development charges over the next several years.