Council offers initial support to $12-million UTRCA project

Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
Stratford council is wary of plans for a new Upper Thames River Conservation Authority administrative office in London.

Though councillors approved sending a letter of support to MPP John Wilkinson seeking provincial capital funding and agreed a city representative attend a meeting with the MPP to discuss the issue, a handful of councillors were uncomfortable with the plans.

The UTRCA is proposing the construction of a new administrative building in London, at an estimated cost of $12 million.

In a letter to the city, UTRCA staff said their current building at Fanshawe Conservation Area is too small for the number of staff they employ. The 40-year-old building has been overcrowded for more than a decade, but “the situation is no longer manageable without a new facility.”

With several councillors expressing trepidation about the letter of support and meeting, Coun. Frank Mark pointed out the UTRCA has stated it would not interpret support for the push for provincial funding as support for the overall project.

“In their letter, they’re quite clear that the financing plan is being finalized,” said Mark, adding the plan will be presented to council later in the year.

Coun. Dave Gaffney said historically, Stratford’s share of UTRCA funding has been about seven per cent. With a $12 million building being considered, Stratford could be asked to contribute more than $700,000, something that concerned him considering the new building would be in London and most of the people employed by the authority are from London. He suggested the matter be revisited in a more dynamic way.

“I’m a little put out by the fact really whatever money is contributed to this project…there is no corresponding benefit to the community,” he said. “We’re going to send money down to London so they can hire London contractors.”

Acting as the deputy mayor, Coun. George Brown suggested the location of the new building be negotiated in the future and that Wildwood might be a good fit.

Coun. Keith Culliton said the project is in its infancy and sending a council representative to meet with the MPP to discuss the matter was the proper thing to do.

“As a courtesy, someone should go,” he said.

Council nominated Mayor Dan Mathieson, who was not in attendance at the meeting, to represent the city at the meeting with the MPP. If he is unable to make it, Gaffney will attend.