Council was in a generous mood at Monday’s meeting

Huntsville council was in the spirit of giving on Monday night. It approved the sale of Brunel Hall, following some discussions surrounding logistics. It gifted 10 acres of land on Etwell Road to the Du Ya Wanna Snowmobile Club for $2, plus expenses. And it donated funds to the Huntsville Legion to help it with damages it sustained as a result of water seeping into its building.

Town donates funds to Legion to help with water damage to its building

Council donated $2,500 to the Legion following news that their building had been flooded as a result of heavy rains.

“The insurance threw us under the bus. They wouldn’t cover us because it wasn’t a flood. We didn’t have any pooling water outside so the water seeped into the building and caused all our damage – it’s an uninsurable loss,” Huntsville Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 President Bruce Frank told Doppler.

“There’s no question the Legion is a crucially important part of our community and we want to support it where we can,” said Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison at council Monday night. He said he heard first from Councillor Brian Thompson and then from Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano on the issue and they were both keen on helping where possible.

The $2,500 was compiled from various funds: $1,275 came out of a reserve for special events and promotions, $700 was compiled from councillors’ discretionary funds and another $525 came out of the Mayor’s discretionary fund. Council also opted to waive gaming fees for lotteries run by the Legion.

“I’d like to thank you wholeheartedly. We’ve been here for 85 years, here come the tears, we will be here for another 85 with your help. So thank you very much,” said an emotional Frank.

Donations to assist the Legion can be made at any TD Canada Trust branch, account name Royal Canadian Legion 232 Flood Relief Fund, transit # 26642, institution # 004, account # 5230475.

See Doppler’s related story here.

Brunel Hall sale goes through

Town Council approved the sale of Brunel Hall to its current tenant, Montessori School, for the sum of $55, 698.20, plus any transfer, survey and legal fees associated with the sale. The Town will have first right of refusal to purchase the hall at the same rate, plus any capital improvements, if the school were to divest itself of the hall in future.

“For those people out there who are referring to this as the goose that laid the golden egg, they’ve killed the goose, there’s nothing left,” said Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison of the estimated $61,000 that was put into reserve when the municipality took over the operation of the hall from the Brunel Hall community board. The reserve was used for things like improvements to Conroy Park and its field house, a donation to the Newholm Church community group, and other expenditures including a new septic and emergency exit for the Brunel Hall, which he said has now left the reserve with a deficit of approximately $50,000.

We might be able to sell it [Brunel Hall] for more money at market value but by doing it this way we get rid of our debt, eliminate any more expense to the taxpayer and we also help a local industry at the same time.
Mayor Scott Aitchison

Aitchison was responding to concerns from the community about selling a Town asset below market value. He argued that repairs to the building and making it fully accessible would require additional expenditures in the range of anywhere between $100,000 to $120,000, plus the municipality would be required to maintain funds for the hall under provincial capital asset management legislation.

Councillor Dan Armour who represents the area said he too had received calls on the issue and noted that roof repair would add to the expenditures the Town would be required to make if it kept the building. He said while people he spoke to were concerned about selling the building under market value, they were also concerned about the building selling to another entity and the school leaving, which he said could impact property values in the area. “I think it’s a good fit for our community and people,” said Armour who also noted that the school is a local employer and has put a significant amount of its own money into repairs. See related story here.

Ten acres on Etwell Road is gifted to snowmobile club

The Town entered into a 20-year lease agreement with Du Ya Wanna Trail Riders Snowmobile Club on October 31, 1996 for 10 acres at 519 Etwell Road. The agreement expires this October and the club has constructed a storage and maintenance building on the property.

“The Town originally assumed this property through parkland dedication and is zoned RU1. Although there is no documentation to prove otherwise, it is believed that the “pit” located on the property is a wayside pit that was established when Etwell Road was constructed and the materials from this pit were only used for the purpose of the road construction. Based on this, it is staffs’ opinion that the provisions of the Aggregates Act would not apply,” states a report compiled by Huntsville CAO Denise Corry regarding legislation that could require, among other things, the rehabilitation of the pit.

Councillor Nancy Alcock asked why the Town was going from leasing the property to its disposal. Corry said the Town does not anticipate the lands being required for municipal use. Councillor Bob Stone asked whether the Town was getting any money for the property to which Corry responded that only taxes are received. In the end, council voted in favour of selling the property with Councillor Jonathan Wiebe voting against it.

This story was updated October 25 to include donation information for the Legion.

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