In the fall, new boat tours originating at the Town Dock had a brief—and seemingly well-received—stint on some of Huntsville’s waterways. But with that docking space now open for commercial proposals via an RFP process, what will be on offer for next year is unknown.
The Tom Thomson (pictured above), operated by Algonquin Cruises, made use of space at the Town Dock in October through a trial agreement with the Town. The company’s boat tours—using two vessels, the Tom Thomson and the Algonquin II, both former river boats on the Rideau Canal—were slated to begin earlier in the year but delays in moving the boats from the Ottawa area to Huntsville via the Trent-Severn Waterway meant that only one arrived and not until quite late in the season. (Read that story on Doppler here.)
The license for the docking agreement expired on October 15, according to a staff report presented to General Committee on October 31.
In his report to committee, Steven Hernen, director of operations and protective services for the Town wrote that, “Staff discussed with Mr. Wyllie the possibility of extending the trial for an additional season to allow Council to see how the operation would work and interact with other users and boating traffic at peak seasonal times. Mr. Wyllie disagreed with this idea as he feels he has met all the requirements of the one-year trial agreement and has asked that staff proceed with general calling of an RFP in which he is prepared to submit a proposal so that he can secure a long-term agreement with the Town.” Stephen Wyllie is the owner of Algonquin Cruises and also operates the Lady Muskoka boat tours in Bracebridge.
Hernen added in his report that “staff are reluctant to issue an RFP for any commercial operation using Town dock space without a trial period and providing Council with the ability to cancel after the first year with no penalty.”
He also noted that a prorated fee of $3,500 was collected for the 2018 trial season, and that the Town incurred expenses for preparing dock space, removing the finger slips and replacing them, hiring a barge to move the vessel on Labour Day weekend, and legal fees to review the license, although the cost of those activities was not included in the report.
In his presentation to committee, Hernen said that “we did have one other inquiry from a private individual wanting to know how they could rent dock space down there to run a business. And I indicated to them that if council wanted to proceed with that there would be an RFP process.”
During committee’s discussion, Mayor Scott Aitchison said, “I think I think we should proceed with the RFP… We don’t have the authority to stop tour boats from going up and down that river. But if we do in fact issue an RFP and we are partnering with an operator, it does give us an ability to have some influence with that operator.”
Aitchison added that boats for tourism purposes have a long history in Huntsville, and that a boat now could “operate off of somebody else’s dock somewhere else and we’d have no influence. So that’s all I’m saying is I think that it’s a good way for us to make sure that people are operating respectfully.”
Earlier in the meeting, Pat Allinson, who owns property fronting on the Muskoka River and who was there representing a group of waterfront owners, brought forward concerns about boat traffic on the river in general and the Tom Thomson tour boat in particular, citing its size, frequency, speed and noise.
An RFP was issued on November 30 “to find a commercial proprietor who is interested in establishing a Seasonal Business on 60 feet of dock space at our Downtown ‘Town Dock’ that will thrive and enhance the economic and tourism experience,” it reads. “The initial license will be for a one year period with the opportunity to renew for a five-year term and potentially another five-year term at the sole discretion of the town.” The RFP closes on January 18, 2019.
In a conversation with Doppler, Wyllie said that for the coming season he plans to add a second deck to the Tom Thomson for tours that will originate at Deerhurst Resort and that will run on Peninsula Lake and Fairy Lake. With the addition of another deck, the boat will be too large to fit beneath the swing bridge. Algonquin Cruises’ second boat that was intended for use in Huntsville, the Algonquin II, had to suspend its journey north in the fall.
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Rob Millman says
For an extremely lucid article, this is all very confusing to me. There is already an existing RFP out there (does the Tom Thomson qualify as a seasonal business?). And if it does, what purpose does the new RFP serve? And for precision, “seasonal” should be defined: The boat tours would proceed from thaw to freeze; whereas a “seasonal” business may not be interested in the “shoulder” seasons whatsoever. Spring, and especially, fall, however are very attractive seasons for a boat tour. I would think that your main problem at Council will come from Pen Lake and Fairy Lake cottage associations protesting a double-decker Tom Thomson ll.
ed gruscyk says
Tourism is great For Muskoka. Encourage visitors to spend their $. Stop at a few places along the way and even go thru our locks.
Doug Austin says
Well, we are a community that a large part of the livelihood of those working here rely on tourism, in fact the history of the town is built on logging and tourism. That’s why the main bridge in town was built as a Swing Bridge, to allow the big tour boats to pass.
I believe it’s good for the town and just has to be managed well AND take waterfront owners’ (me being one) concerns into consideration.
Let’s try and get along folks…
Merry Christmas!
Thomas R Spivak says
I for one would have concerns with the mayor of Huntsville having any part of a business proposal. I lack confidence in his skills as a business person.
Paul Waldron says
What services would the town provide for the commercial operators? A area to dock the boat?
Are other businesses in the area going to provide washroom or the washrooms in the park? Is there going to be a ticket sales booth? What happens when it is raining? If the finger docks are removed where are other boaters to dock, reducing space for tax paying lake front owners?
I hope the Towns RFP covers the full aspect of running a business that does not have a permanent place on land or will this be like other business that have cropped up along the river that the citizens of Huntsville provide public space so they can run.