THUNDER BAY - Despite Thunder Bay city council voting not to award a tender for construction of the proposed indoor turf facility, Mayor Bill Mauro is hopeful that even if that decision is ratified, the community will still see some form of the facility built in the near future.
“There are still opportunities there for sure,” Mauro said. “I think most still want to see something. I think the work we’ve done over the last couple of years will ultimately lead to something for the community.”
During Monday night’s city council meeting, a vote to proceed with awarding the tender to the Tom Jones Corporation to construct the $37,038,790 facility was defeated 7-5, as several councillors who had supported the project in the past decided not to move forward at this time.
The actual cost of the facility for the city is estimated at approximately $46 million over 25 years, due to $8.8 million in interest payments on a $16.6 million debenture. That debenture would result in an estimated annual cost of $22.65 for a median residential property owner.
The indoor turf facility had originally received stronger support from more members of council, who voted to move the project to the tender phase.
Mauro, who has long been a strong supporter of the project, said he was surprised to see some councillors have a change of heart.
“It was a little bit of a surprise for sure,” he said. “We had a 9-4 vote in favour and then 7-6 vote and then it ended up the way it ended up at 5-7.”
But just because the project will not be proceeding to tender, it does not mean it is completely dead. Council’s decision last Monday still needs to be ratified on March 22 and if it is upheld, city administration will restart the tendering process.
“If it does get confirmed to not to go forward with the tender, we still have a ratified decision to move forward with something,” Mauro said. “So that becomes a question on process. If that is defeated, I’ve already reached out to the clerk’s office earlier last week in case this happened and I am working with the clerk on potentially a resolution if it does get endorsed to not award the tender on the 22nd.”
Mauro did not provide details on that process because he said he does not want to preempt the March 22 vote.
“Certainly there are next steps and the community will be wondering what the next steps are, so I hope to be in a position to talk about that in the not too distance future,” he said.
Since last Monday’s vote, Mauro said he has heard a lot of feedback from the community on both sides of the issue.
“There are a handful of people who are happy it was turned down,” he said. “But I would say now we are hearing from the people who were silent so far and expressing their disappointment with the decision.”
Mauro added he believes the price tag for the project was a concern for those opposed to the project but he remains hopeful that some kind of indoor facility will be built in the city of Thunder Bay.
“We did our best to convey the financial plan we had in place and what it meant. I thought we did a good job conveying that to the community,” he said.
“I think a Northern Ontario city should have an indoor something. We will see. There is still something positive that might flow from all the work we’ve done to this point.”
