Cork calls on council to consider moving county administration centre

GUELPH – A Wellington County councillor is calling for a special meeting to discuss moving the county’s administration centre from Guelph to a location within Wellington County.

Councillor Campbell Cork presented the idea in a notice of motion at the Nov. 25 council meeting.

“I think this does require a special meeting in that there would be a fair discussion on it,” said Cork.

In providing the notice, Cork called on county council to hold a special meeting early in 2022 “to have a fulsome and open discussion of whether we want to bring the Wellington County administration centre out of the City of Guelph back to the County of Wellington to a central location such as Centre Wellington.”

The county’s administration centre has historically been in Guelph, dating back to the early 1800s, when both were part of a municipal entity known as the District of Wellington.

Guelph was incorporated as a city and withdrawn from the county in 1879.

Cork told the Advertiser he feels, given upcoming capital expenditures planned for the administration centre, that it’s a good time to discuss the idea of relocating.

The county’s 10-year capital plan includes a $28-million expansion of the current administration centre.

The notice of motion will be presented for consideration at the January county council meeting.