Main Street grant of $41,000 to go towards Oso Hall stairs

Craig Bakay | Jun 27, 2018

As luck would have it, it looks like Central Frontenac will be able to fix up the stairs at Oso Hall and put insulation in the roof, Council learned at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake.

Clerk-Administrator Cathy MacMunn told Council that the Township has been allocated $41,514.11 under the Main Street Revitalization Initiative.

At the last Council meeting, Council had decided to forego the ceiling insulation as the stairs leading from Garrett Street to the hall required much more work than originally thought.

While it’s unlikely the stairs will require all of the funds, Council directed staff to examine additional lighting and accessibility at the facility.

Coun. John Purdon suggested any leftover funds could be applied to the K & P Trail through Thomson’s Cut but Council opted for lighting at Oso instead.

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Co-chairs Sue Leslie and Bob Teal presented Council with the Community Hub business plan for the former Hinchinbrooke School in Parham. The 50-page plan is a necessity in this day and age to secure funding.

Leslie had hoped the Township could begin a Trillium Grant application but was told there wasn’t sufficient time nor staff resources for this year.

“We haven’t had that much success with Trillium grants lately,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “So better to put in a better application next year than to rush through it this year and be rejected.”

The Committee will continue to explore other sources of funding as well as search for a retail component to the proposal.

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Council approved $500 for a new committee to look into holding an annual trail day in Central Frontenac following the success of last year’s first one. The day will probably be held in September.

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Council accepted the resignation of Chief Building Official Shawn Merriman, who has accepted the position of manager/building and bylaw with the Town of Prescott effective July 9.

Former South Frontenac building inspector Alan Revill will be filling in for Merriman until a permanent replacement can be found.