Budget
Not surprisingly, the draft budget reflecting a 6.97 per cent increase in the local tax levy has received final Council approval. The increase translates to $15 per $100,000 of assessment on the local bill.
Chamber of Commerce retains funding, sort of
Following a week of public consultation and much hand wringing, council has put $50,000 back into the Chamber’s budget but with a number of caveats. The Chamber will receive $25,000 for event marketing but will be required to provide a business plan stating clear and trackable results. The Chamber stands to receive a further $25,000 of matching funds for corporate sponsorships they secure. The potential $50,000 donation is being funded through reserves and will not impact this year’s tax levy. Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano noted that funding through reserves is a one-time thing and that the goal this year is to figure out how to properly fund events in Huntsville.
The $50,000 is in addition to the $32,000 the Chamber will receive from the Town to manage tourism inquiries in 2016.
A more in depth story will follow shortly.
River Mill Parking, not
The motion to alter River Mill Park and add some parking spots has been deferred until council has an opportunity to obtain public input. In addressing the issue Councillor Bob Stone said, “There’s much misinformation out there. There’s an article in the newspaper that didn’t include all the information. Quite simply, when the park was built the landowners that owned the property between the dock and the new park did not sell to the Town right away. We eventually did acquire the property but it’s never been part of the park. The plan is to turn most of that area, between the dock and the park, into more grass and in doing so we have an opportunity to create some more parking along Dara Howell Lane. Both of those exercises will end up in a net gain of parkland.”
A more detailed story will follow shortly.
Hunter-Rutland Financial debacle
The accounting is in and it ain’t pretty. Over the span of the dispute with Hunter-Rutland, the Town spent $226,776.82. The Town will also write off $21,911.71 in outstanding rent, penalty and utilities.
Town CAO Denise Corry provided this report:
Previous and Current Implications (excluding Perjury claim)
2011-2014 Legal fees = $128,039
Insurance Settlement = $(58,000)
2015 Legal fees to date and settlement costs = $138,737.82
2015 Legal Fees (unbilled and accrued) = $18,000 (approximately)
Total = $226,776.82
“It is what it is. It’s over finally” – Mayor Scott Aitchison.
Open Air Change Shelter at Hutcheson Beach
Members of the Rotary Club of Huntsville/Lake of Bays have been given permission to install a change house at Hutcheson Beach. Obviously this open-air building will be used by families at Hutcheson Beach for changing into swim wear, etc. The proposed building will be approximately 16’ x 20’ with 8’ tall wooden panel walls and will be built upon a poured concrete pad.
Mobile Health Hub finds a home
A one-day a week Mobile Health Unit for Port Sydney/Utterson/Stephenson has a home. Initially the Health Hub was proposed for the Utterson/Stephenson Community Hall, a facility used daily by groups and seniors. To avoid displacement of the hall users and to provide an ideal facility Fire Chief Steve Hernen suggested use of the Port Sydney Fire Hall instead.
The Port Sydney Fire Hall will become the home of the Health Hub. They will open January 26 at 9 a.m.
The Mobile Health Hub includes staffing (Nurse Practitioner), primary care delivery, and program evaluation. They provide access to programming for non-rostered patients on an “in-kind” basis, based on program capacity and primary care to rural, isolated, seasonal and/or vulnerable residents.
New Pumper/Tanker truck for Huntsville Fire Department
Huntsville is getting a new pumper/tanker truck this year to replace its 1988 model. The new vehicle will come from Carrier Centres Inc. – Metalfab at a cost of $370,512. According to Fire Chief Hernen a cooperative purchase initiative which piggy backed on a Sundridge RFP for the same truck saved the Town about $20,000.
Well done, Gord! It is to be hoped that several local businesses will imitate your generous gesture. Further to the Hunter-Rutland accounting, i.e. beyond the cost of Mr. Finlay’s ongoing trial, I didn’t see the difference in cost between the equipment which the Town sold, and its appraised value reported.
Finally, while I applaud the construction of a changing facility at Hutcheson Beach, will the O.P.P. do occasional evening drive-bys? Just the thought of the disgusting, future graffiti on this new building sickens me as a parent and grand-parent.
I took my cheque in to the Chamber office this morning for the Beauview Cottage Resort. See my selfie at https://www.facebook.com/beauviewresort/
Finley case is back in court on February 9. Nothing happened today.
Nicely encapsulated Liz…it is so nice to have good reporting back in town…This is one Councillor who appreciates what you’re doing with Doppler. Thanks.
From reading your news reports and following the Huntsville Town Council meeting on Twitter, it looks to me like the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce needs to quickly raise $25k for the Event fund in order to receive matching dollars from the Town of Huntsville.
To provide leadership and a challenge to “put our money where our mouths are”:
I would like to suggest that each retail store, restaurant and accommodation business take a cheque for $500 or $1000 or more… (depends on how much business you get from events) to the Chamber office before the Thursday night’s Chamber Annual General Meeting, to show your support of events tourism and the Chamber of Commerce.
Finley is on the court docket, again, today. If anything happens we will let you know.
Does the mayor’s comment ‘it’s over’ mean that the John Finlay trial has been settled and if so, what was the outcome?