KAGAWONG—While meeting to discuss a draft 2016 budget for the township this past Monday, Billings Township council also discussed the future of its fire hall building.
“It has been a wonderful building over the years and is iconic, but maybe it is time that the (fire hall) building has to be replaced,” stated Councillor Tom Imrie. He suggested that council may want to look at a multi-use building that could house the fire hall, the township administration office and other meeting space.
In looking at the 2016 budget and capital items, “the fire hall has to be discussed,” said township clerk Kathy McDonald. She told council that originally $65,000 had been assigned in the budget for renovations of the roof of the fire hall, but said it might be prudent for this amount to be put in place in reserve once a plan is in place as to what is going to be done to the current building, or towards a new building.
“When I received a verbal report from the engineer who looked at the building about how much we should set aside for the roof and repairs, he was not sure it would be worth spending money on,” she told council, noting the report shows there are serious structural deficiencies with the building itself, including problems with the foundation, walls cracking and possibly mould concerns.
“They looked at the exterior walls, and they are cracked and buckling, water is getting inside and the bricks are below grade,” said Councillor Imrie. “The interior walls are deteriorating, and there is no insulation or barrier between the inside and outside walls.”
Councillor Brian Parker pointed out that basically the ground where the building is located is not strong enough to hold the building and it (building) is heaving.
“With the situation at the fire hall the engineer said that we would be putting good money after bad money by looking at just repairing the building,” said Councillor Imrie.
“In the short term the engineer recommended that we look at reinforcing the building so that it won’t fall apart,” said Councillor Imrie.
“This is going to be a big job, and we aren’t going to be able to get everything done this year,” said Mayor Austin Hunt. He noted that same group that built the fire hall in Billings was the same that built the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) fire hall.
“Primarily, the building is not structurally sound,” said Councillor Imrie. “There is a big problem with the building and the question is in terms of asset management is what are we going to do with it?”
Councillor Barbara Erskine questioned “whether we should see a difference in all of our other older building assets. It is horrible what is happening with the fire hall building but is it the only one with similar problems?”
Councillor Imrie suggested that “one thing that could solve heating loss in some buildings, and plumbing concerns, is building a multi-purpose municipal complex with for instance the fire hall-the municipal offices can be moved into it.”
“We could have a building that would house the municipal office and fire hall, and additional room for clubs and our committees to hold meetings,” said Councillor Imrie.
Ms. McDonald suggested that council could take $65,000 that had been set aside for repairs on the fire hall and move them to reserve. “If council decides that a new building needs to be constructed this money would be in place for plans to be drawn up.”’
“None of us are planners,” said Councillor Erskine, who suggested an expert (engineer) needs to be hired to look at the current building and possible replacement options.
“I agree with Barb that we would need a professional to look at all of this, as it would be a major cost outlay,” said Councillor Parker. “And I agree with Barb that we need to look at all our buildings and that there will be a point that we can’t handle all these buildings. We need ways to make sure our buildings are self supporting and that we can at least break even in terms of costs.”
In looking at the draft budget, Mayor Hunt raised concerns that no funding has been set aside to hardtop the road going into Kagawong.
However, it was pointed out that without current problems on the road being rectified, due to it being a clay base, “it would be a waste to hardtop the road.” Ms. McDonald said representatives of Pioneer Construction have indicated they will be coming forward with a recommendation for a solution to the road.
The meeting was told $100,000 has been set aside in the budget for hard topping roads in the township this year, compared to $142,666 in 2015.
Councillor Sharon Alkenbrack questioned why, in looking at the figures in the draft budget for the power generating station, the township saw a loss of about $15,000 over the past year.
Ms. McDonald explained, “we didn’t lose revenues—we get the same as the company. All of this depends on the years and as long as they are generating power we (township) makes money.”
“I’m 99.9 percent sure we will not get funding for the marine swim instructor this year,” said Ms. McDonald, pointing out this is due to government cutbacks in funding.
The water treatment plant budget is supposed to balance, said Ms. McDonald. “We have pretty much a brand new water treatment plant up there now, and our auditor says we now have $414,000 in reserves for it.”
Councillor Parker said the landfill is a problem in terms of the space being eaten up. “The pile of garbage is getting to be mountainous at the back end of the site.”
“We will have to start working on that,” said Ms. McDonald.
Mayor Hunt noted that two years ago Billings applied for, and received, an extension from the province of the foot print it could use for the landfill on the property that it is located on.
However, the site is still filling up and it was suggested the township needs to be more restrictive on recycling and garbage.
For costs the township does not control, such as education, District Services Board, health unit and others, “if it wasn’t for our policing costs this year, our OMPF (Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund) funds would pay for these costs. The costs the township pays, which it has no control over, amounts to about $401,000, and Billings is receiving $438,000 in OMPF funding. However, on top of this, is the policing costs the township is to pay of $210,000 this year.”
The council was told there is an annual financial loss for the Park Centre, even though it sees about 200 rentals a year and is used about three or four nights a week by groups and organizations.
“This is one loss that I don’t mind, because it (Park Centre) helps people get involved in the community,” said Councillor Parker.
As far as any funding support from the province for the waterfront improvement project, Councillor Parker cautioned, “I think it’s going to be very quiet from the province. They don’t have any funds.”
In property assessment the council was told the township is losing about $45,000 per year in farmland and managed forest assessments.
