Council agrees to use Hastings Hydro Fund for library signs
Some residents opposed use of fund's money, wanted town to foot the bill
Trent Hills council has agreed to use $20,000 from the Hastings Hydro Fund to help finance an electronic sign at the Hastings branch of the Trent Hills Library.
The Friends of the Hastings Library had requested $34,000 to cover a new electronic sign at the corner of Albert St. and Bridge St., a sign on the building with the library’s name, and a parking sign at the entrance to the lot.
Last fall, the library assumed control of the building that had been a municipal community centre.
In its application, the Friends group said, “The electronic digital billboard will facilitate communication of community events, important public information, and emergency alerts. This is vital for our small community that does not have any local means of communication to the general public. The current billboard is outdated, physically awkward, unsafe and time consuming to change for the library staff.”
Some Hastings residents had criticized the plan to use money from the hydro fund, created when the village sold its generating station to Ontario Power Generation, for a project they felt should be financed by the municipality.
Councillor Dennis Savery, who represents Hastings, noted those mixed feelings and suggested the municipality needs to find a way to communicate better with residents in all three communities.
After learning that the Hastings Hydro Fund had $23,000 in interest earned last year that had not been spent, Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf suggested that $20,000 be allocated to the sign plan, with the library board picking up the extra cost.
Councillor Rob Pope noted that the library board is funded by the municipality.
Community Development Manager Kira Mees said that with the collapse of local media it is difficult for municipalities and local groups to let the community know about their activities.
Savery agreed this is particularly true for residents who don’t rely on the internet for information.
Aron gets $30,000 boost
Councillors agreed to forgive about $30,000 the Aron Theatre Co-operative owed the municipality.
In 2012 the municipality lent the theatre $22,000 so it could purchase a new sound system. That $22,000 loan was structured as a bond paying 2.5 per cent interest that came due on May 1, 2024. The municipality was owed $29,585.85.
The loan was made from the municipal fund, part of the money received when our hydro stations were sold and was administered by the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland. The foundation urged council to forgive the loans.
Russ Christianson, the Aron’s general manager, told council the theatre has had a reasonably good year and is close to breaking even.
The theatre is refinancing the bonds it has issued and is asking individual bondholders to forgive all or part of their investments. So far, about $11,000 has been donated. With the town’s decision to forgive its loan, the theatre will need a mortgage of about $155,000, which it hopes to obtain from the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland.
“It’s important for the municipality to support this venue, it’s a historic part of Campbellford,” said Councillor Gene Brahaney.
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