Collingwood council is doing what it can to push the federal government for an answer on a grant application to build a clubhouse at Fisher Field.
At a meeting on July 20, council passed a motion calling on the government of Ontario and Canada to fast track the Canada Infrastructure Program grant applications, and consider Collingwood’s request.
Councillor Tina Comi brought the motion to the rest of council, noting the town was “in a holding pattern” when it comes to the Fisher Fieldhouse project because it was waiting to hear on grant funding.
She said she was frustrated to still be waiting on an answer.
“We are one of many municipalities who applied for this grant program and we are stuck waiting,” said Comi.
She hoped a council motion sent to the Prime Minister, MP Terry Dowdall, and MPP Jim Wilson would speed up a response.
Council approved the hiring of an architect to design a clubhouse and washroom building for Fisher Field in 2018.
The Fisher Field clubhouse was pitched by staff to council a year ago with initial estimates at about $910,000 funded through development charges and a reserve fund for capital projects as well as some financial contribution from the Collingwood United Soccer Club.
According to town staff, 40 to 50 per cent of the cost of the building is for the cost of building a septic bed and a reservoir.
Through a public process, some changes were proposed to the design of the building.
By October 2019, staff had learned about a rare provincial/federal infrastructure grant available and added to the clubhouse design to create a second option for $1.4 million. The new option included a community room, office, storage space and a concession area. It was also insulated and the entire building could be used year-round.
The idea was to build the second option if the town was able to secure the grant funding through the Canada Infrastructure Program. The grant application, if successful, would cover about 75 per cent of the cost of the $1.4 million option.
In March, council decided to wait on construction for the clubhouse until the town heard back on its grant request.
Once COVID hit, town staff had trouble getting answers from the provincial government on the status of the application.
The project has been in limbo since then.
Executive Director of Corporate and Customer Service Dean Collver told council on July 20 staff periodically follows up with the grant administrator at the provincial level.
“We were told it was imminent, that a provincial response was coming, but I haven’t heard anything else since then,” said Collver, noting his last request was a week and a half ago.
