MINDEMOYA—A motion to delay the demolition of the Old School in Mindemoya until it is absolutely necessary has been turned down by the Central Manitoulin property committee.
“I thought the committee (Mindemoya Old School Repurposing Committee, MOSRC) was now defunct,” stated Councillor Derek Stephens to motions that had been passed by MOSRC for consideration by the committee—the second motion to write Doug Smith of Manitoulin Transport a letter acknowledging the municipality’s gratitude for the offer of funds for the Old School roof replacement.
Councillor Dale Scott, chair of the committee, said the motions are calling on the committee to recommend to municipal council to thank Mr. Smith for his offer of $50,000 for the new roof on the old school and for council to consider not tearing down the Old School until it is absolutlely necessary.”
Central Manitoulin Mayor Richard Stephens explained, “the idea of pushing this onto the council agenda is to acknowledge the offer of funds for the roof, which I agree with, and to put off demolishing the school until we have a definite answer on what we are going to do with the building and the (proposed) multi-plex.”
It was pointed out by Councillor Angela Johnston that the request for the thank you to Mr. Smith from the committee had never come to council for consideration.
“Why do we need a motion for this?” asked Councillor Stephens.
“The municipality has responsibility for the building,” said Mayor Stephens.
Brad Christanson, Central Manitoulin municipal co-ordinator, explained the MOSRC didn’t feel they had the authority to write the letter to Mr. Smith, that it would be a decision made by council, and that they had no authority to accept the offer.
“Was (the offer) ever in writing?” questioned Councillor Al Tribinevicius.
It was noted the offer had been made in an email to the MOSRC committee.
The property committee passed a motion to recommend to council to send a thank you letter to Mr. Smith for his offer.
The committee then focused on the second motion to not demolish the Old School until all options have been explored and it is necessary to knock the building down. Mayor Stephens forwarded the motion with Councillor Scott seconding the motion.
“This issue has gone around the table a few times,” stated Mayor Stephens. “There isn’t a rush to demolish the building that has stood almost 100 years. And nothing is to be gained by removing it until council makes a final decision. I agree with leaving the iconic building as it is until it is necessary to do something and a final decision is made by council.”
“Tonight there are pylons that have been put down on the road in front of the (Mindemoya) arena (to keep traffic from parking in front of the building),” said Councillor Stephens. “That building (Old School) doesn’t need to be there. It doesn’t serve any use any more and would be a great parking lot. The building can come down any time. No one has found a use for it, and every year we wait it costs us more. We could have had it demolished for $50,000 and now it will cost at least $150,000. By waiting three years the costs to have it taken down have increased.” He said the area filled by the old building could also be used as a park, or expansion of the ballfield as well.
Council will know by June 2020 if its application for funding for a new building has been approved, said Councillor Stephens.
“We need to know what our grant status is before we can go ahead (with a proposed new facility),” said Councillor Scott. He said a new use for the Old School has been explored for two years, but nothing has concrete has been found for repurposing it, and it is time to move forward.
Councillor Tribinevicius said he would like to see the building’s availability promoted to a broader audience. “I’d like to see the building advertised further afield, and I’d love to see it used for a brewery, a pub, or maybe even a youth hostel,” he said, noting, “a lot of people are looking at Manitoulin as a place to have a business.”
Councillor Johnston said although she likes those ideas, a private business would need to buy the Old School and take it over.
“I love the idea of a pub,” said Councillor Shaffer. He pointed out, “I don’t believe the (MOSRC) study was limited to Manitoulin Island. I think the committee looked beyond the Island, at how to make the building financially viable.”
“The survey done on the building showed a lot of deficiencies, and the committee looked at a use for it for two years, and found funding to carry this out, but a concrete use for the building has never been brought forward. It is time to go on,” stated Councillor Scott.
The committee voted against the recommendation being forwarded to council to leaving the Old School as it is until all options are considered.
