Leeds and Thousand Islands to continue with Gananoque arena contributions

The Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands will continue to contribute to the Lou Jeffries Arena for a four-year period.

The vote was carried 5-1 in favour, during Tuesday’s council meeting, with Coun. Angela Kelman the only vote against. Coun. Mark Jamison was not at the meeting.

Coun. Jeff Lackie, who, like Kelman, has been vocal about his displeasure at how much the township was contributing to the arena, ultimately voted in favour of the motion, saying it was time for council finally to make a decision.

“I think we’re high on this (in terms of the money the Township will contribute) but it’ll be the will of council and whatever the will of council is, I will support,” said Lackie. “I’m glad that much more information is available now to people. They can make their own decision. I’m here to represent all taxpayers of the township.”

The agreement is for $161,500 for 2025, with an annual adjustment for inflation for the following three years.

“We’ve gone down this road many times and it’s a substantial amount, but our climatic conditions doesn’t allow us to have outdoor rinks, or at least not for very long,” said Coun. Brian Mabee.

“Our residents can participate in the building, we still have the hockey, figure skating, all of the other things, but the rink is more than just an ice pad. It has the upstairs, a hall, where meetings are held, youth dances, etc. It does have a need. It serves a purpose.”

Deputy Mayor Terry Fodey said he, like Jamison and Kelman, would like to see a township recreation plan developed.

But in the meantime, Fodey supported the township’s contribution to the Lou Jeffries Arena.

“I think it’s going to take us three or four years to actually get a recreation plan developed for the township,” said Fodey. “It’ll take a lot of work, lots of investigation from our various departments.”

Kelman appreciated the additional information provided by staff on the matter but was still cautious about the agreement.

“Almost half of our recreation budget being spent on one facility for (a portion of our population) is not equitable for the people across the township,” said Kelman.

“I just can’t wrap my head around that. We do need a recreation plan, and I would have like to see more input on that before we agree to something that will carry us forward for four years and we’re locked into that.”

At the committee of the whole meeting held Nov. 4, staff presented an operations and infrastructure report regarding the township’s financial participation in the Lou Jeffries Arena.

During the ensuing discussion, committee members requested additional information to assist them in making a decision and chose to defer the matter to this week’s council meeting.

Some of the additional information requested was – what is the arena contribution in terms of the township’s overall budget for recreation?

The committee also had questions about the timelines of recent staff reports on the arena and what had been previously approved.

Staff included a brief summary of the most recent activity regarding the arena.

The approved 2024 operating budget for recreation is as follows: $319,100 for recreation, $122,600 for recreation and outdoor facilities, $271,900 for parks, for a grand total of $713,600.

The arena contribution of $158,500 for 2024 is included in the recreation budget line of $319,100. Accordingly, the 2024 arena contribution makes up 49.67 per cent of the recreation budget line item and 22.1 per cent of the overall operating budget for recreation.

“What I want the community to understand, is that recreation happens because of volunteers,” said Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke.

“And only because of volunteers. The recreation co-ordinator that we’ve funded here in the municipality is just the quarterback. The rest of the team is reliant on those individuals who choose to step up and support, whether it be seniors, children, whatever it is, it’s really all organized through volunteerism.”