The discussion was long and at times emotions got the better of some, but at the end of the night, council had a plan to move forward with Picton Marina.
Prince Edward County council approved, with a 9-5 recorded vote, during its meeting on Tuesday night the sublease agreement with Tenacity Capital to operate the Picton Marina.
Mayor Steve Ferguson said he wanted to get this project spearheaded by CJ Thompson going.
“Get this off our plate, deal responsibly with the losses we have incurred and get the marina up to the point that it can be the jewel that I think previous councils and I think this council certainly thinks it can be.”
Councillor Andreas Bolik wanted staff to look further into the environmental impacts such as the carbon dioxide emissions as well as the risk of spills.
Councillor Ernie Margetson felt there were things in the sublease that could be better clarified.
“I think there are some things in the repair and maintenance and replacement that could still be better clarified and I also feel that I would be more comfortable if I knew what the expectancy of our assets and what our obligations are going to be in the next ten years.”
Chief Administrative Officer Marcia Wallace told council if the report were to go back to staff to answer their questions around the previous costs over the past ten years, the projected costs, addressing environmental concerns and sewer billing would see the report come back during the first part of 2021.
Councillor Phil St-Jean felt this sublease is a win/win.
“The dollar a year lease is to our benefit to $38,000 a year folks. Think about it. We’re not going to have to pay that out, our taxpayers are not going to have to pay that out. I, for one, think this is the best deal we have ever seen and are ever going to see for this marina.”
Thompson told council he has been in discussions with County staff since 2017 about this property.
Prince Edward County would retain ownership of the marina while Tenacity Capital would operate the marina.
Thompson is hoping to have the marina in operation in the spring of 2021.
