Coun. Tim Lauer is furious that a majority of his colleagues decided to “gamble” on an “all-or-nothing” approach to win funding for the Atherley Narrows bridge and interpretive centre - a decision that could mean the project is not even put forward for consideration.
At Monday night’s council meeting, councillors agreed to amend a decision from last week’s council committee meeting.
At that meeting, city politicians decided to put three projects forward for federal/provincial money through the Canada Infrastructure Program, which offers up to 73 per cent of funding for approved projects.
They decided the top prioritiy for funding would be $5 million for renovations to Brian Orser Arena, followed by a request for $5 million for waterfront improvements (a refrigerated skate trail, an addition to the Orillia Waterfront Centre and a new conservatory) and $12 to $15 million for a new Atherley Narrows bridge and fish weirs interpretive centre.
However, last night, a majority of council voted to remove the Atherley Narrows project if Rama First Nation chooses not to take the lead on submitting the application.
Mayor Steve Clarke said he felt it was imperative that Rama spearhead the initiative for mostly financial reasons.
Under this funding program, he noted, First Nations are eligible to receive up to 93 per cent funding for approved projects - 20 per cent more than municipalities.
“I firmly believe in my head and my heart Rama First Nation should be taking the lead on this for a couple of reasons,” said the mayor. “Certainly, it’s a sign of support for the project and also because of the financial benefit.”
He said Rama could receive more than $2-million more in potential grant money than the city could obtain if it submitted the application.
Coun. Ted Emond said if the First Nation east of Orillia was not willing to take the lead, the city should not submit a funding application for the project.
“If they’re not willing to (take the lead), that, in my mind, is an indication they are not willing to support the magnitude of the project, or the financing of the project and I don’t believe we, as a city, want to pick up that magnitude of the costs contemplated in this submission,” said Emond.
The city's share of the project would be between $3.2 to $4 million if the city was successful in an application for funding. If Rama First Nation was successful, it would be less than $2 million.
Lauer, however, said there may be factors the city doesn’t understand that could preclude Rama from taking the lead with the application, which must be filed by Nov. 12.
“There could be a million reasons” why they aren’t able to take the lead, he said.
While he conceded it would be best - financially - if Rama took the lead, it would be the worst-case scenario if, for whatever reason, Rama wasn't able to take the lead.
That would mean the city could not step in and submit an application because, as a result of the amendment, "that horse has left the barn," said Lauer.
"All I’m saying is, why are we gambling here? Why not leave the motion as is?" he asked. That way, the city would still have the opportunity to advance the funding application.
He also bristled at the prospect of replacing the ambitious Atherley Narrows project with a new arena - something Coun. Ralph Cipolla tried - unsuccessfully - again Monday to garner support for.
Cipolla again tried to nix the idea of fixing 45-year-old Brian Orser and sought support to replace that project with a request for funding to build a new arena at the Orillia Recreation Centre. A new arena and fieldhouse is contemplated in a second phase of the West Street facility, but it has not been costed and is not part of the city's 10-year capital plan.
“We’re substituting a very vague long shot appliction (new arena) for one that I think has been well researched and well developed,” said Lauer. “We’ve got a great set of drawings, we’ve gone through an EA, we’ve invested a lot of money, Rama First Nation has invested money, Ramara invested money.
“There’s no argument about the quality of that project,” he said, noting the plan, all along, has been for Rama to take the lead on the application.
However, if they are unable to do that, now Orillia can't apply for funding either, he lamented.
Rama First Nation council are expected to consider taking the lead on the project at their meeting next week.
One thing has been clarified. Brian Orser renovations - not a new arena - will be the city’s top priority for grant money.
Coun. Rob Kloostra made the case for improvements to the Gill Street arena, comparing it to an approach the Township of Oro-Medonte took when it spent $3 million to revitalize the Guthrie Arena.
“It’s a great facility,” Kloostra said of the arena on Highway 11, adding their “hockey program is huge.”
He said the “bones of Brian Orse Arena are very good,” noting the city has already invested money into repairing the floor, plumbing and refrigeration.
“To tear it down and replace it with another arena, which we don’t have a location for” is “not a good idea,” he said.
“It has good bones. Let’s fix it. Let’s finish the project,” said Kloostra. “We have an opportunity to get grant money. Let’s go through with it.”
In the end, that’s what the city decided to do.
If Rama chooses not to take the lead, the city would submit just two applications for funding - renovations to Brian Orser and waterfront improvements.
