MINDEMOYA—A number of members of the Central Manitoulin council were clearly torn as they struggled with the decision to close the Mindemoya Old School building as of September 1, 2016, but the potential financial impact of the facility on the town budget has made the decision appear all but inevitable for some councillors.

The original motion came forward as a recommendation from the Property Committee: “That we close the Mindemoya old School Building as of September 1, 2016.” But following discussion, it was decided to amend that motion to provide for a public information meeting to lay out the financial reasoning behind the decision and to discover if there might be a last ditch concept to keep the building open.

The motion to close the facility was moved by Councillor Alex Baran and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens.

When the motion came to the council table, Councillor Dale Scott asked about a public information meeting. “I guess we had talked about a public information meeting,” he said, to which Central Manitoulin CAO Ruth Frawley responded that “we talked about it a couple of months ago, but I had no direction (on a possible date to hold the meeting) from council.”

“I just wonder if we are going a bit too fast,” said Mayor Richard Stephens, noting that the first tenants will be apprised of the impending closure would be through a story in the media. “Maybe we should have the public meeting to hear how the building should be used in a viable manner.”

“We do have significant tax dollars that we have to put into the building,” pointed out Councillor Stephens. “If we were to continue to rent out units, we will have to make a significant investment, over $500,000.”

Councillor Baran noted that since he first arrived on council, the “Old School has been on our radar. A number of members of the public spoke on the issue, some at length, at the all candidates’ meeting before the last election.” He pointed out that a request for proposals on retrofitting the building’s windows alone came in with costs of “at least $200,000” and that there are two oil tanks that must be imminently replaced, and insulation that must be dealt with.

Councillor Baran indicated his concern that in order to avoid the building being operated by the municipality through another heating season the timeline for dealing with the closure was becoming tight, but that moving the closure to October was not likely a big issue. In any event, he described a public engagement as “totally legit.”

Councillor Scott indicated that he would be in favour of a public meeting, but added that he did not think the municipality could go into another season, citing the physical costs as the building needed “a lot of retrofit.” He advised that a public meeting be held as soon as possible in order to hear if “there are other options,” adding “we would like to hear them.”

Councillor Scott noted that the closure would be going into the next paper and he did not want that story to “contribute to panic.”

“I am not in favour (of the closure),” asserted Councillor Linda Farquhar. “I think we pay taxes to the municipality to keep up old buildings like that.” Councillor Farquhar pointed out that although costs to retrofit the Mindemoya Old School building were significant, “I don’t think we could replace a building that size.”

CAO Frawley interjected a comment to point out that the building was not registered as a heritage building, adding that the municipality currently only has one such building, the stone edifice of St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church on Highway 542.

Mayor Stephens noted that although the building may not have official designation “to some of us it is.” He went on to say that if there was a “viable way” of making the building sustainable “that would be my preference.”

“That would be great,” said Councillor Stephens, “but at what point do the costs outweigh the benefits? We have a responsibility to our ratepayers. I went to school there—it doesn’t mean that much to me.”

“I went to school there in just about every room,” agreed Councillor Ted Taylor, “but if we don’t have the tenants, we don’t have the revenue and we will have to close it.”

“I think the idea of a public forum is a good one, maybe the community as a whole will come up with an idea,” said Mayor Stephens.

Councillor Taylor pointed out that he believed the that Old Mindemoya School was one of the first continuation schools in the province and one of the first to see a significant use of school busing to bring in the students from outlying areas.

“It is a difficult decision,” said Councillor Scott. “I have seen that school for 40 years, but we have the new fire hall and the arena is in bad shape.” He pointed out that even filled to capacity with tenants, the building costs are difficult to maintain. “If we don’t have the renters, we will hit the crunch.”

CAO Frawley suggested that the public meeting date might be set at the current meeting.

Councillor Stephens suggested passing the motion at the current meeting, as is, pointing out that the council could still make changes after the input from the public information meeting.

Councillor Baran said that he would prefer the motion move forward “as is” as well.

The CAO pointed out that the tenants would require 90 days of notice of the termination of their occupancy. She also asked “do you want to go before the public with a motion you have already made up?”

Councillor Scott said that he came away with the understanding from the committee meeting that the meeting would be “an information meeting” and that the concept was to explain to the public the decision council had made and present the evidence, “statistics and numbers,” as to why that path was chosen. “I did not think it would be a meeting to ask for public input.”

“That was my understanding as well,” said Councillor Baran, “that the meeting would be for public information.”

In the end the wording of the motion was changed to wording that the council was to “consider closure no later than September 1” and that a public meeting was to be held.

Following the council meeting a tentative date for the public meeting was set for Wednesday, March 30, that week being free of council meetings and falling between the March break and Easter.