At Mississippi Mills recent council meeting, a delegation from the Almonte Legion attended to voice their organization’s opposition to designating their building on Bridge Street as a heritage structure as recommended by the municipality’s heritage committee.
The structure was built in the 1870s as a bank.
Branch president John Dalgity noted the serious financial burdens and legal restrictions such a designation would bring. He added that in talks with the building’s insurance carrier, substantial premium increases would result as well as costly and regular assessments of the structure.
He reported that these costs would take money away from the services the branch provides to veterans as well as the community. In his opinion, that community support far exceeded any value of a heritage designation.
He noted that a heritage designation wasn’t required to keep the building in good shape as proved by the long history of the branch’s stewardship
Council’s committee voted to defer any discussion on the heritage committee’s recommendation to their June 23rd meeting. Any designation would require a formal council bylaw vote.
Story by Brian Turner
