According to Denise Corry, the Town of Huntsville CAO, both stalls of the River Mill Park washroom were closed over the weekend due to vandalism.
Corry could not say when the washrooms were expected to reopen or what the damage was, but she lamented such actions, noting that the municipality has had similar issues with vandalism to the washrooms at Town Hall (Club 55), at the previous Coldwell Banker location, and the Tom Thomson bronze by the late artist Brenda Wainman-Goulet.
“We had constant vandalism. Like people would dump macaroni in the toilet and plug it up, and we just had constant issues,” said a frustrated Corry. “You know, sadly, we have people in our community that continually destroy infrastructure, costing our taxpayer money.”
She said Tom Thomson’s pipe has been ripped out repeatedly and the municipality has replaced it multiple times.
In terms of the latest incident to the River Mill Park washrooms, Corry said: “All I know is that they were vandalized to the point that they couldn’t be operational over the weekend. I don’t know if that was a result of parts or if they had to get a special contractor to come in. I don’t know those details,” she said, adding that staff did indicate that the washrooms had been vandalized to the point that they were not operational.
Corry said the Town is working with the OPP to identify the individual/s responsible. Council has also approved cameras for the park, expected to be purchased and installed sometime next year. The washroom facility was donated by a community member and comes with cameras but Corry said the municipality would be installing its own that can be integrated with the camera system at the Canada Summit Centre.
“Obviously, it’s going to take some time to get them ordered/installed. We have to get the system up where we can monitor, and our hope will be that because it will continue to occur, sadly, our hope is at least we can identify who it is and the OPP can take the appropriate action,” said Corry. “It just always feels a little disheartening because it was such a great thing in our community. It was donated… it didn’t cost the taxpayer any money, and now it’s costing the taxpayer money… we all are very proud of this community, and it’s sad that people continue to do that.”
She said the municipality would put every effort forward to identify who is vandalizing public infrastructure. “We are constantly checking on that location, and our staff are very committed, and they feel again very deflated when it’s closed because they know it’s a reflection on the Town but can only do what we can do…,” said Corry who asked that if anyone witnesses anything suspicious to please contact the OPP or the municipality.
In the meantime, people are being directed to the portable washrooms behind the stage in River Mill Park.
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I would recommend paying for use, sadly it’s needed.
Enough is enough. Vandalism has for far too long done so much damage and cost so much money in this town. Each of these acts are an insult to the donor of the washrooms, for example, the artists’ whose heart and souls are put into their works, or the volunteers who plant and maintain planters and gardens. The taxpayers who have to pay to repair the messes are “ticked” right off. I realize cameras aren’t in the budget till next year, but why not get a loan from the Municipal Accommodation Tax and get cameras all over River Mill and for poor old Tom as well. Perhaps the Town could look at setting up a Community Improvement Plan, and partner with the BIA/shopkeepers to get cameras on Main Street as well.
Consequences for vandalism offences clearly need to be more severe. Perhaps the police and Town could work together with the Crown Prosecutor and Justice of the Peace to establish more effective deterrents to this nonsense. The Criminal Code is what it is, but public opinion has to count for something in keeping law and order.
It seems absurd to me that the cameras weren’t installed as soon as the washrooms were installed and ready for use. Why would we not expect this type of vandalism when it has happened before? Why not plan for a way of tracking who is using the units that allows for date and time stamping? It may not eliminate the potential completely but it certainly could help in tracking down the perpetrators. I agree with Brian Tapley, in making the vandals pay for the repairs and part of their sentence iincluding some sort of sweat equity. I know enforcement will be a challenge but there needs to be accountability.
What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This seems to be the case with any retribution these people will be handed for their actions. What is the deterrent? Agreeing with Brian Tapley, have those that commit the crime help fix what damage they have committed. Consequences for your actions. I am frustrated reading stories like this repeatedly (impaired drivers too!) and the frustration for our police force as well ; it’s like ground hog day – find the offenders only to have them back out again to commit more crime…..
The same thing happens at our Fall Fair. Disgusting young people out there. And yes its the younger crowd doing it. I guess the feeling of feces in there hands is a turn on….
It is just sad that there are people out there who so dis appreciate the efforts that our government makes to make their life better and more fun that they destroy things like this.
Between this type of vandalism, the ridiculous cost of insurance and a host of various government regulations to be complied with it is no wonder that most private business prefer to do nothing in the form of this type of public service provision. It is like putting your head in a tin garbage can and asking someone to bang on it with a hammer.
Personally, I say add cameras, just outside the door, record every entry/exit and when you catch the perpetrator, do not fine them, simply make them, as in they, themselves and nobody else, “fix what they damaged” at their own expense. If it requires contractors, they pay. If it requires replacement parts, they pay and if they are at all capable they do some of the work and clean up everything for a month to serve as a reminder. If it requires some help and supervision to do the repairs, they pay for this too. If they are under age, their guardians pay for them.
This type of activity should ultimately “hurt” the perpetrators at least financially.
Its sad and maddening, this town has som major mental health and addiction problms, major housing problms paired with tht…ugh…not mch being done about it and i dont think most are evn aware.
Whn i lived dwntwn my car was contantly broken into, had my gas stolen, had to hear drunk and high people yelling and swearing at ALL hours, cld hear thm destroying decorative planters or flowers put out by shop owners etc…it was horrible!
I hate to say I told you so BUT……not the first time this happened.Vandalism is the main type of entertainment for these morons. The kind people who donated money for these washroom should have spent it somewhere else.
A shame, even if not a surprise. And to think, we have some parents standing with their hands out, asking:: “Subsidize my daycare costs” / “Help send my kids to hockey and summer camp” / “Please feed my kids breakfast”. How about parents spend time with their own kids, feeding them, interacting with them, paying for them, and teaching them morals and values and how to integrate respectfully into society?
When we built the public washrooms in Parry Sound, we also installed cameras.
Great idea…as long as someone is able to monitor the video feeds.
We still had numerous cases of vandalism, as well as chronic drug use. Be aware that the washrooms can be a great place to drop off drugs for pickup….
We had the local OPP on speed dial…..
This was not expected? It was a prime target from the start.
Even if caught the turkeys will get a slap on the wrist and back on the street.
Now I know why the merchants in downtown and the town itself do not display Christmas decorations.
Humans. They have to kill or destroy! We are the intelligent race in the universe?