A rendering of what the municipal hub could look like, drawn up by +VG Architects
The Municipal Hub in Portland has been put on pause.
That’s the way Rideau Lakes mayor Arie Hoogenboom wants to put it, as in a meeting last month, council tied on their vote to move the project out to tender, which results in a defeated motion.
Hoogenboom spoke to Lake 88 a few weeks removed from the meeting which ignited emotion across the horseshoe, and says his feelings haven’t changed.
Hoogenboom says he feels that way for a number of reasons, including the fact that the Township spent over $365,000 of taxpayer money to get to the tender vote.
Hoogenboom said there’s no additional cost to put the project out to tender to see what the price tag would be, so to stop the process at this point didn’t make sense.
Hoogenboom says he understands the objections from other councillors regarding price and feasibility, but the positives would outweigh the negative in the long run.
The current draw up of the hub features municipal workspaces, and a library/common area with an estimated price tag of $8.2 million.
The mayor says there’s a chance the hub is revisited after a by-election is held in May to fill the empty council seat following the passing of Cathy Livingston.
Story by Grant Deme
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