Rideau Lakes councillors continue to be split on the Portland hall and library project.
In January council took the project, which at that time featured office space for municipal staff, all the way to the tender phase before a tied vote killed the process.
They’ve since voted to move ahead with a hall and library without the workspace, but at their meeting last month, council voted 5 to 4 to defer starting a loan application of up to $3 million.
Ward 2 councillor Jeff Banks wanted the application process to proceed.
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom has been an opponent of the project and reaffirmed that stance at the meeting.
Hoogenboom believes the money would be better spent building new municipal offices as the current building doesn’t fit their modern needs.
The Portland hall/library project was a sticking point in the latest municipal election and by-election in Rideau Lakes, and in the community.
The motion to defer the loan application process was voted on as follows:
Jeff Banks – Nay
Paula Banks – Nay
Carr – Yay
Delaney – Yay
Dunfield – Nay
Hutchings – Nay
Maxwell – Yay
Pollard – Yay
Hoogenboom – Yay
Story by Grant Deme
