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$200G budget for rec facility project

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Norfolk County flirted with the idea of renewing recreation facilities in Simcoe in a big way for about a year.

Now that the decision has been made to pursue it, the time has come to spend some money.

That was the message county CAO David Cribbs shared with Norfolk council this week.

Cribbs tabled a recommendation – which was approved – for the creation of a $200,000 budget to last staff through the end of 2018.

“It’s seed money to use as things need to be accomplished,” Cribbs said Tuesday.

“If this facility is to be built we will need two-thirds provincial-federal funding. But the initial costs will have to be borne by the municipality. We have to show the province we’re putting our money where our mouth is.

“We can’t find $200,000 under the mattress or between the cushions on the couch so we have to come to you.”

The Norfolk County bureaucracy is gearing up to take on a major task. All departments and divisions are engaged.

In his report to council, treasurer James Johnson describes the work ahead as “the most significant capital project in the history of Norfolk County.” In his presentation, Cribbs said the project could cost as much as $60 million.

Simcoe Coun. Peter Black said no one on Norfolk council should be surprised the project is making demands on the county treasury.

“We all knew this was coming,” Black said. “We know we can’t move forward without funding.

“This is our second step. There will be many steps ahead. This project is complicated and will be taken one step at a time. We are not going from Step A to Step Z all at once.”

Part of the preparation involves assigning specific county employees to this file and ensuring they have the background knowledge to see it through.

To that end, three county staff will be selected to take a Future Ready Leadership course through Mohawk College this fall. The focus will be on project management. The training will cost $12,000.

The $200,000 allocation will have no impact on the local levy. A total of $50,000 is available as interest from Norfolk’s $70-million Legacy Fund. Another $150,000 will be taken from an Invest in Ontario grant.

“Community hub” has become the local shorthand for the multi-use facility.

Delhi Coun. Mike Columbus and Black expressed reservations Tuesday over this terminology. They said they will refrain from using it so long as the project is on the agenda.

They feel “community hub” is fraught with baggage and might limit the county’s ability to pursue fruitful lines of inquiry moving ahead.

“Multi-use recreational facility” and “multi-use recreational facilities” are the terms Johnson uses in his report. Black said these are his preferred terms of reference.

Norfolk council is exploring the possibility of replacing aging recreation facilities in Simcoe with new ones. The wish-list consists of a new arena, swimming pool and community gymnasium and walking track among other amenities.

Council has agreed that the undertaking is not possible without significant support from federal-provincial infrastructure programs.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com

 

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