Opening of new Winnipeg Police HQ delayed... again

The opening of the Winnipeg Police Services fancy new digs has been delayed yet again, this time due to water damage the building experienced in the summer.

Further delays are not welcomed by any means.There has been a lot of money spent and I want to see the value for money.- Mayor Brian Bowman

A torrential downpour in August soaked a transformer in the new headquarters, and the dampness may have damaged another transformer, too.

Although the city has insurance, it could take weeks for claim details to get sorted, which could delay the police move-in date by weeks more or longer.

Project management was not ideal: Bowman

Just two days on the job, Mayor Brian Bowman was fielding questions Friday about the delay, and the projects checkered past.

Project management was not ideal, said Bowman.

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The project is already $75 million over budget, and the now-$205 million police headquarters was first scheduled to open in January 2014. That date was postponed to June, and then this fall.

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Despite having not been briefed on the buildings latest issues yet, on Friday Bowman vowed a speedy move by police into the building as soon as possible.

"Further delays are not welcomed by any means, said Bowman. There has been a lot of money spent and I want to see the value for money."

'Learn from possible mistakes': Morantz

News of the delay greeted the newly sworn in chair of the finance committee Coun. Marty Morantz.

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Morantzsaid the city has to step up itsgame.

"We have to learn from possible mistakes in the past and try and do our best to not have them repeated," said Morantz.

The project director for the police headquarters saidexpenses connected to delays in getting into the building haven't been determined yet, and there are negotiations happening with the insurance company.

Excepting for the water damage, though,the project is finally running on budget.