The City of Nanaimo is taking another step on the road to replacing its aging public works yard.

Nanaimo city council voted 6 to 3 in favour of a plan to fund more detailed designs for the project.

The city is looking to upgrade facilities on Labieux road by building a new administration building and a new fleet maintenance facility, where it would service vehicles like garbage trucks and snow ploughs.

A plan to borrow up to $90 million to complete the upgrades had to be shelved after an unsuccessful alternative approval process last year. 

The designs are projected to cost $1.8 million, staff say it’s something that will need to be completed no matter how the rest of the project is financed.

Bill Sims, General Manager of Engineering and Public Works with the City of Nanaimo, spoke with Midcoast Morning about the latest developments on the project.