The town will provide a $75,000 loan to assist with renovations to the Harriston Lions Medical Centre.
Council agreed on March 22 to provide the loan to the municipal services corporation set up to operate the facility.
The renovated building will house Dr. William vanSickle’s dental office, a new medical practitioner recruited to replace Dr. Doyin Oyelowo, who moved to the Minto Rural Health Centre in Palmerston, and a satellite office of the Mapleton Minto Family Health Team.
The health team is relocating within the building and renovations will include an expansion of the dental office, renovation of the medical office and general building upgrades.
A report from the corporation indicates renovations include roof, insulation, fascia and soffit, eaves trough, outside lights, and gable ends. Interior renovations include washroom/plumbing upgrades, flooring, baseboard, insulation, paint, LED lights, drywall and wiring. The total cost of renovation is not expected to exceed $75,000.
The report states that under new proposed leases the board expects about $35,000 of revenue annually, versus expenses of around $25,000.
“Since the town is the sole “owner” of the corporation, the board is requesting a loan of up to $75,000 to complete renovations and prepare for the new tenant in July. It is expected the loan would be repaid in 10 to 12 years.”
In 2015 the town formed a municipal services corporation under Section 203 of the Municipal Act, and assumed shares of the Harriston Lion’s non-profit corporation and with it ownership of the Harriston Lion’s Medical Clinic.
The Lions had wanted to dispose of the asset to the town in the face of dwindling membership.
