Huntsville council will decide on October 26 whether to move forward with a request for proposal for the private management and operation of Muskoka Heritage Place.<\/p>\n
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison is the chair of that committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil is pretty serious about finding ways to deliver the service we deliver cheaper so that we can invest more money on roads.\u201d Scott Aitchison<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cWe need to spend more like $6 million a year on capital projects for roads to get them up to snuff and we spend around $2 million, sometimes less than that if we\u2019re trying to save money because we\u2019ve overspent somewhere else, \u201c said Aitchison.<\/p>\n
He said council is looking at savings throughout the entire corporation as well as generating more income through facilities that currently charge a fee.<\/p>\n
He cited the University of Waterloo building as an example. He said the building was costing the Town about a quarter million per year. The Town renegotiated the lease agreement with the university for a more favourable rate as well as the ability to do more with the remainder of the space.<\/p>\n
Aitchison said the Town is currently looking at a proposal made up of various partners, who are interested in taking over the balance of the space at the University of Waterloo building. He was pretty excited about the prospect, noting that it would also generate more business in Huntsville.<\/p>\n
In terms of Muskoka Heritage Place, Aitchison said council is doing the facility a disservice.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year we just sort of nickel and dime it and try to save money but at the end of the day we\u2019re probably doing the place a pretty significant disservice and not actually doing anything productive with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a request for proposal would outline what the municipality, which would retain control of the facility, is attempting to achieve in terms of programming and education at MHP.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there a private individual or company that can come in and continue to offer that service and maybe make money at it, not lose money?\u201d he questioned. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll work, but council is prepared to give it a try.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aitchison said MHP is currently costing taxpayers an estimated $100,000 per year, and when you add community halls and other similar facilities to the mix \u2013 the costs add up.<\/p>\n
He said such facilities \u2013 especially those that are not being used frequently \u2013 should be looked at from a different perspective.<\/p>\n
The recommendation of issuing an RFP for the operation of Muskoka Heritage Place is expected to make its way to the October 26 council meeting for final approval.<\/p>\n
Any proposals generated by the request will be presented the the Town’s general committee in March, 2016.<\/p>\n
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