During a Niagara Regional Police Services Board public meeting last Thursday, Mayor Bentley and fellow board member Bill Smeaton, a regional councillor for Niagara Falls, expressed concerns over potential delays for the construction of a new 8 District facility.

While the board approved initiation of the project, including the hiring of a project manager, at a confidential meeting May 15, the board may face a major hurdle at the regional level next Thursday at regional council.

While $2.5 million has already been approved for the project back in 2003, the Region must still provide full approval for an additional $1 million needed for the project, which has a $3.5 million price tag. That additional $1 million, said Mayor Bentley, became an issue at a Corporate Services meeting at the Region Wednesday. He said the funding seems to be tied into the overall facilities review, which is to be done by a police facilities committee created two months ago, despite prior approval to move ahead with the Grimsby project.

"This could hold up the project for no good reason," said the mayor, adding the board needs to provide the region with any further information it needs to make a decision before Thursday's meeting to ensure the project moves ahead.

"This project has been approved for a number of years ago and initiated a number of years and now falls into that trap of the committee which oversees everything," Mayor Bentley said. "That's not their mandate."

Reg. Coun. Smeaton was not happy that there could be a potential delay. He said he was "annoyed", especially since this is a critical stage for the project.

"I think it's time to force the issue here. I think it's overdue" he said.

The increase in costs, according to Mayor Bentley, is due to inflation.

"The cost in construction alone has gone up $70 per square foot," he said in an interview last Thursday, adding the plans for the project haven't changed since approval in 2003.

Reg. Coun. Smeaton said he is prepared for a "showdown" Thursday, adding there should be no excuse to hold up the project.

He recommended the board deliver any information needed by the region as soon as possible, to give time for its consideration at regional council next Thursday.

"Let's not hold anything up here," he said.

Mayor Bentley, in an interview, said he looks forward to the issue being resolved so the project can move forward. Sims Moelich Associates Ltd. has been selected as project manager to oversee design and construction.

Once approved at the region, he said, it will be full steam ahead. Land has already been acquired on Clarke Street, just east of the Maple Avenue overpass.

The project will be funded from debentures over a term that has yet to be determined by council.