The Derby Community Centre in Kilsyth (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
Georgian Bluffs council wants to hear some feedback from residents about what they’d like to see with the Derby Community Centre before any decisions are made on an artificial turf proposal.
A motion passed at Georgian Bluffs’ Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday to ask staff to undertake a public engagement process around what the community would like to do at the facility in Kilsyth.
“This will then help either show if and how the proposal we have received supports these community needs,” says Georgian Bluffs Interim CAO and Director of Community Services Niall Lobley.
Georgian Bluffs Mayor Sue Carleton introduced the motion during yesterday’s meeting to have staff undertake public consultations after councillors reviewed a report about a public-private proposal from Ontario Sports Development.
It would involve Ontario Sports Development investing in the installation of artificial turf in the Derby Community Centre and assuming operation of the facility for at least 10 years, while the township would retain ownership and responsibility of capital costs.
The Derby Community Centre was built in 1967. Georgian Bluffs would have to invest an estimated $1.5-million over the next decade to maintain the aging facility.
“While we are hearing very clearly from a lot of people who are very supportive of (the proposal), we’re not hearing that other side that are going to be impacted by it as well,” Carleton says.
Lobley expects the engagement process will start in June and run into the summer. He says it could involve an online survey and possibly a townhall style meeting at the Derby Community Centre.