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LRCA has to work for building funds
KRIS KETONEN
11/24/2009

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The new Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) building is $1.7 million closer to reality, as Thunder Bay city council agreed to throw the financial support behind the project.

Plans for the facility – to be built on a parcel of LRCA-owned land across the river from the Thunder Centre on Fort William Road – got some resistance from council, despite assurances from the LRCA that it was the most economical option to replace the current and aging building, which requires $1.6 million in renovations and upgrades if it‘s to continue being used.

The new building and associated costs will set the LRCA back $4 million. Of that, $2 million is expected to come from member municipalities, $1 million from the sale of the existing building at 130 Conservation Rd., and the remainder from the federal and provincial governments.

The city will finance its portion by issuing an internal debenture financed by reserve funds. The city will pay $463,000 in interest over the 10-year debenture term, and property taxes will increase by .15 per cent in 2012, a report to council states.

Thunder Bay city manager Tim Commisso pointed out that the city will attach conditions to its portion, so that it will only be paid out if the rest of the money is in place.

LRCA chairman Bill Bartley said the new location is ideal, as it‘s centrally located, visible, hooked up to city water and sewer, offers space for parking and a garage, and allows for a larger building.

Still, there was resistance from some councillors. Among the concerns was the value of the building site, which Bartley estimated at $1 million.

Coun. Aldo Ruberto questioned whether there were better uses for the property.

Ruberto said the majority of councillors were in favour of a new building. It was the location that was the concern.

Coun. Robert Tuchenhagen – who voted against the resolution – said the project was excessive.

“It‘s everything that they ever could imagine to dream of, and that‘s what they want,” he said of the LRCA. “I think the taxpayers deserve better than that. This is the kind of thing that makes taxpayers mad. Instead of renting . . . 12,000 square feet of office space somewhere and build a garage, they want to have a new, shiny, $4-million building on a million-dollar building lot. And honestly, as a taxpayer myself, that offends me.”

The LRCA stated in a report to the city that there are no suitable other locations in the city, and it wants to own the building expected to serve it for the next 35-50 years.

The measure passed, with Tuchenhagen and Coun. Trevor Giertuga the only holdouts.

Bartley said the project will go out for tender on Dec. 1.

In other matters Monday night:

• Commisso presented the five-year strategic infrastructure plan, Renew Thunder Bay, to council. It was a first report, and was only put on the agenda so council would have an opportunity to review the plan and ask general questions before the Dec. 1 meeting, when it will be open to debate.

The plan calls for the city to spend about $40 million for strategic infrastructure over five years. The infrastructure would include phase two of the waterfront development, a 5,000-seat multi-use event centre, a citywide multi-use trail system, renewal of parks and recreation facilities, downtown area upgrades, citywide wi-fi and sustainable energy projects.
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