A sprinkler malfunction at Orillia’s city hall left parts of the building flooded and water-damaged Monday night. The building remains open.
Orillia City Centre, 50 Andrew St., is open for business, says manager of communications Jennifer Ruff. However, some staffers have been relocated, and some areas are closed.
Ruff says an engineer has been on-site already today and deemed the building safe.
“Orillia City Centre is up and running and staff are carrying out their regular duties,” says Mayor Angelo Orsi. “I’d like to thank city staff, the Orillia Fire Department, and all those who made it possible to keep City Hall open for business as usual.”
At about 10: 15 p.m. Monday, a third-floor sprinkler malfunctioned, causing water damage to the third floor. The water then seeped to the second and first floors. The city says it will take a couple of days to clean up and dry the building.
The third-floor reception is closed, though the main switchboard remains operational. A cashier has been set up in the Tudhope McIntyre Boardroom on the first floor to handle transactions.
Ruff says with some staff members relocated to different areas of the building and suggests contacting the main switchboard to route calls more easily. She warns there may be an increased volume of calls, and recommends anyone who gets a busy signal to be patient and try again.
The County of Simcoe Ontario Works satellite office located on the second floor of Orillia City Centre is closed and it is unknown at this time when it will reopen. Ontario Works staff is working remotely out of the Barrie office. Northern Lights Employment Services Centre located on the first floor of Orillia City Centre is closed Tuesday and anticipated to reopen Wednesday morning.
