If Huntsville Council was looking for an easy answer from staff to help it solve its River Mill Park washroom conundrum, it didn’t get one.
Council continues to find itself between a rock and a hard place. A generous donation by a community member means there is a $300,000 state-of-the-art washroom facility waiting to be delivered by the manufacturer but the installation quote the municipality is currently entertaining is sitting at $330,000, which would mean installing the structure would cost more than building it.
In July, council asked municipal staff to look at other locations within River Mill Park where the washrooms could be installed at a cheaper cost. Considerations included slope, proximity to services, and a location where the park’s parking lot asphalt would not have to be ripped up and then repaired in order to access underground services.
At its September 7 special council meeting, staff returned to council with 11 possible locations they said they had looked at through consultation with Tulloch Engineering. None of the options came in at less than $200,000.
Councillor Helena Renwick said the costs were still too high and said she could not justify the expenditure. Councillor Scott Morrison agreed and although the funds would be coming out of development charges, he said there were better places to spend the funds. He said he wanted to see the preferred location/s go out to tender.
Councillor Jason FitzGerald said that is the cost of installation these days, while Councillor Dione Schumacher said the community needs an accessible washroom in that location.
Councillor Cory Clarke said he preferred the option for the least amount of money but that option meant placing the units on top of underground services. Discussions about asking the District to reroute the services or whether they’d be amenable to allowing the structure to be located on top of the services ensued. Then there was the issue of possible soil contamination in certain areas of the park and the need for test holes.
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock questioned what plan B would be if council could not arrive at an acceptable cost. Clarke said plan B would be trying to recoup the funds the municipality had already spent, selling the unit, returning the funds to the donor, and apologizing profusely. That option was not something anyone on council seemed to want to entertain.
Deputy Mayor Dan Armour asked if the Town’s public works department could prepare the lands and then issue a tender. Brandon Hall, Civil Engineering Technician for the Town, said that could probably be done but it would depend on the scope of the work.
Coucillor Monty Clouthier said councillors were elected to make a decision and suggested that council choose one or two locations and issue a tender.
In the end, council asked staff to have discussions with the District of Muskoka, which looks after water and sewer services, about the location of the washroom facilities and return to council later this month.
Depending on the weather, council’s window of opportunity for installing the washrooms before winter is closing. If a decision is not made soon, it may find itself having to pay for the washroom unit to be stored over the winter.
You can find staff’s report, HERE.
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Jamie Lockwood says
Perhaps this is a time where you return the money / donation and humbly admit , a mistake was made as costs to connect were not properly in place nor determined. I spend a fair amount of time around from the summit centre – lookout and camp kitchen area. There is a portable toilet that is fairly close to the w/f at camp kitchen. There is also one in close proximity of the w/f along Hunters Bay. So . If those are good enough for me and the tourists that use them, why can’t that asinine amount of money for connection be kept and find a reputable provider for a male- female – handicap portables at River Mill. Obviously no one is concerned with them being close to the water. ( read above ). Build a simple privacy wall in front and behind. With flowers and vines etc. A bench nearby for parents when their kids use them. Install a pump that could provide water to a small outdoor sink for hand washing. I’d be curious how many years that could be done while the connection fees paid for that. Perhaps if that outdoor rink is done again every winter at River Mill, the donor of the washroom could have their name attached to the rink and the benches ? Win. Win.
Portables go in May – out Oct . I’ve been to alot of places / towns and used a portable . I’m sure the Town could assign 1 employee to maintain 3 portables ? Seems like a good way to solve an issue and save $300,000. I’d be curious for a portable company to provide here , a quote for that May 1 – Oct 1 time . Then see how many years that could be done for $300,000. Sometimes getting from point A to B , you don’t need a Cadillac. You just need to get to point B.
Just a thought from a local .
Tom Spivak says
One would think that considering the enormous cost of these washrooms a responsible council and public works department would have worked out these issues prior to spending the donated money.
Our town council really needs to stop this continuing path of bad planning and wasteful spending.
I question why the washrooms need to be in River Mill Park since it’s largely seasonal, is really only a parking lot for business owners and employees, and the washrooms cannot be monitored. Why not put them in the parkett at main and Brunel where they are actually needed?
June Banks says
I agree why was installation not costed out before toilets ordered.
Please council do your job.
Matthew Laurence says
**slow clap**
Really makes me feel great that council can’t install a donated bathroom. What happens when there’s tougher decisions to be made.
Bill Beatty says
Get it done ; I can’t hold it much longer !!!!
Allen Markle says
Are we to understand that, if one were to try to service a property lot within the town limits, the cost would be $200,000.00 or more to get a sewer, water and hydro hook-up? Just curious. Is this the result of town planning or just the cost of contractors in the town? It certainly doesn’t speak well for affordable housing in Huntsville. Unless you’re a developer. Then you just rattle a lawyer or two, contact the Ontario Land Tribunal, then proceed to clear cut and blast and bulldoze away.
The lady who made the generous donation must be watching in awe and incredulity. Most of Huntsville is.
Waiting for the next episode.