HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 09, 2024 - Special Council - AddendumTHE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAYHAM
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ADDENDUM
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Attached to 3.A Straffordville Hall Foundation re SCC Renovation and ICIP Grant
Request for Action -SCC Renovation and ICIP Grant
December 11,2023
Mayor Ketchabaw and Members of Bayham Council,
The Straffordville Community Centre was originally equipped with a fully functional
kitchen which was well utilized by renters and community organizations for many
years.It was removed in 2016 when the rehabilitation to the facility occurred;leaving
the facility with a servery with no cooking appliances or means to provide on-site
catering or meal preparation.
Straffordville Hall Foundation has advocated for a kitchen renovation to the
Straffordville Community Centre since 2017 when we took on the volunteer role as
Facility Managers.As facility managers,we were elated to hear the news of the ICIP
Grant and the plans for expansion to the facility and grounds.We were very much in
support of this project as we felt the substantial financial support from upper levels of
government made the project feasible for the Municipality and would leave the facility
in a state that would require very little financial investment for many years to come.
It has been an extremely long 3 years waiting for this project to come to fruition as our
Municipality has faced many unexpected challenges.The project has been altered
numerous times,and a descope request put forth to the ICIP Grant Coordinator in
April 2023;to which there has been no response after eight months of waiting.As a
result of this waiting game,the SCC rental revenues have been negatively impacted
as we (the facility managers)have been unable to provide confirmation for renters
wanting to book the facility months in advance.We have been working on a month to
month basis in regards to booking the facility at the direction of staff which has limited
the potential rental revenues for the facility.
After considering report CAO-63/23 from December 7/23 Council,the SHF are of the
opinion that this project is no longer financially viable due to potential cost overruns
that may run up to 30%over budget among other reasons such as inflationary
pressures and unknown availability for contractors if the project were to commence
while the new Volkswagen Battery Plant in St.Thomas is being constructed.We feel
that continuing to wait for a response from the Federal and Provincial Governments
on the descope seems unproductive and unreasonable at this point in time.Knowing
that potential cost overruns could negatively affect the tax levy or could result in
taking on short term debt to finance the project would be imprudent and fiscally
irresponsible.
SHF continues to advocate for a kitchen renovation for the SCC as we feel strongly
that the facility and the community will benefit from a fully functional kitchen in the
capacity of special events rentals,recurring rentals,and battling food insecurity in
Bayham through community-driven initiatives.
The SCC Capital Reserve Fund currently has $48,129.42.This includes $25,000.00
that the SHF were awarded through a grant opportunity from Farm Credit Canada for
kitchen appliances.The SHF applied for this grant with approval from,and in
consultation with Senior Staff in Bayham.The grant expires at the end of 2024.The
SHF are not in favour of returning this grant as we have worked very diligently to
secure this funding.Further to that,we feel that turning this grant back to FCC would
negatively impact any future applications we endeavour to put forth,and quite
possibly the Municipality as well since we are both listed on the Grant Agreement as
a partnership.It should be noted that FCC Agrispirit also was the main funding
mechanism for the portable stage and new chairs in the SCC in 2018;an application
the Municipality itself was successful in attaining.
The SHF has raised and forwarded $174,640.82 in cash to the Municipality since
2015.Additionally we have donated $177,250.00 through in-kind services throughout
that same time period.We are currently in the position to donate an additional
$10,000.00 in cash to the SCC Capital Reserve Fund with ongoing contributions
continuing in the future to ensure a kitchen renovation would be feasible for the
Municipality.
At this time,the Straffordville Hall Foundation would respectfully request the following:
1.That Council direct Staff to turn back the ICIP Grant,
OR
That Council direct Staff to put forth a new application to ICIP to repurpose the ICIP
Grant to another project in Bayham.
2.That Council direct Staff to allocate all or a significant portion of the original
$534,881.00 municipal portion of the ICIP Grant to the SCC Capital Reserve Fund for
a renovation to the current Servery,Bar and Coat Room to create a fully functional
kitchen in the SCC and any other necessary improvements needed for the facility and
that said items be re-inserted into the 2024-2033 Capital Budget as stand-alone
items.
In closing,we feel these requests for action align with Bayham’s Strategic Plan,
specifically in battling food insecurity in Bayham as community-driven initiatives
present the opportunity to improve the quality of life for many residents in
Bayham.
2.Quality of Life…
2.1.To work collaboratively with community organizations and others
in ensuring the availability of a diverse range of passive recreational,heritage,
cultural and other community services that contribute to enriching Bayham’s
valued quality of life.
Initiative:Strategic improvements to recreational amenities to promote healthy
living.
Thank you for the opportunity to bring forth these items for action and for your
consideration of these requests.
Kind Regards,
Straffordville Hall Foundation