The city is taking a swing for the fences in hopes of saving the historic wooden grandstand at Fred Salvador Field in Hollinger Park.
During Mayor Steve Black's update on the 'Stars and Thunder' festival on Friday, he revealed that the city had applied for Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation's Event Partnership Program to the tune of $441,500 in November. It would offset costs for the purchase of signage, flags, banners, picnic tables, barriers, security fencing, and a large (60- by 140-foot) tent, for use at the eight-day event.
Tacked onto the NOHFC application was an item titled 'grandstand modernization', which actually makes up the bulk of the total value. The city is tying in the refurbishment with the festival.
Councillor Rick Dubeau was less than thrilled. He said council has had discussions regarding the grandstand over the last two years, and only recently decided to remove the grandstand refurbishment from the yet-to-be-finalized 2017 city operating budget, due to concerns over affordability.
"So I'm wondering why we applied for money when council did not approve this," he asked Black
"We applied for money because it was in the budget as a possible item, and the application for funds had that as an option to do it. So if council was going to consider moving forward with something, and we could get some funds, it was opportunity to do it," replied Black.
Essentially, if successful the city would then be responsible for just 50 per cent of the costs to refurbish the nearly 80-year-old structure. The term 'fifty cent dollars' was used multiple times throughout Friday's proceedings. Total, albeit rough, cost estimates in the application for 'grandstand modernization' are $630,000. The city's share would have to be added to the 2017 budget. Black said it was being brought to council early due to special circumstances.
"We're exceeding the limits that are in that program, but because of the significant nature of the event we're hosting and the importance pertaining to that, they've considered it, but want to know that council is on board with moving forward too," said Black.
Councillor Noella Rinaldo mentioned how it was recently retired former CAO Joe Torlone who made the application.
"Kudos to him. The grandstand is something that's been discussed for close to six years that I've been on council. The public is adamant about having those grandstands fixed, but it's always been pushed to the back-burner," she said.
Rinaldo further praised Torlone for navigating the murky waters of the application, and finding infrastructure dollars within the constraints of a fund designated for events. She called it 'very creative' and attempted to calm any apprehension around the council chambers.
"We'll deal with it when it comes. If the cost is there, if we can get it. We may not get it. But I think it was an opportunity when they saw it, and they said 'you know what this is something we've been asking for, have never been able to find the money' So maybe we'll be lucky," said Rinaldo.
Mayor Steve Black is hoping to have the funding in place, and the grandstand repaired in time for the 'Stars and Thunder' festival. It would provide shade and potential rain relief for concert goers. Andrew Autio for TimminsToday Black made sure to point out that it wasn't Torlone acting alone. He mentioned other city staff members, as well as the Timmins Economic Development Corporation personnel for assistance in the application process. He also said that the application stipulates that any infrastructure funded by NOHFC must be of long lasting use to the community.
Dubeau was apoplectic over the possibility that if the application is successful, the city has committed to spending more than $400,000. He also made it abundantly clear that he has no interest in refurbishing the wooden relic.
"I respectfully disagree with Councillor Rinaldo when she says that the public is adamant about keeping the grandstand. I'm hearing totally the opposite, totally the opposite. Quite simply its so huge. You go there. I've been there. Nobody sits in there. There's about four or five baseball teams, that's it. It's had its time. It just doesn't make sense to refurbish that thing," he said.
When it was time for the vote, in favor were Councillors Pat Bamford, Mike Doody, Veronica Farrell, Andrew Marks, Walter Wawrzaszek, Rinaldo, and Mayor Black. Opposed were Dubeau and Joe Campbell.
Black spoke with reporters after the meeting and explained why the items tied to operations of the 'Stars and Thunder' festival were on the same application as the grandstand rejuvenation.
"When we were doing our festival applications, obviously the grandstands are in the park where the festival is being held, and they have a significant capacity if they are in shape to be used. Right now in our festival plans, they're not included in the site plan, its actually planned to not allow access to the grandstands because we don't feel that they are of enough condition to support the hundreds of people that they would if they were at capacity for an event of this nature," said Black.
He added that grandstand renovations fit under the application program, and that NOHFC requested an approved resolution from Timmins city council before they'd consider dolling out money.
TimminsToday also asked Black about the probability of having the grandstands refurbished and ready to rock in time for the festival, if NOHFC approved.
"That is still a possible scenario. Obviously with them deciding at the end of this month, if approved, staff would need to get out right away on those and bring in the engineering requirements to decide what needs to be done. Then get the tender out, and it would be a very tight timeline to get it ready before the festival," he said.
