THUNDER BAY – City council has agreed to give a group attempting to restore the Chippewa Park carousel $71,017 to help complete the project.
But an amendment put forth by Westfort Coun. Kristen Oliver to give them an additional $128,983 from the stabilization and reserve fund was narrowly defeated by a 6-5 vote.
Oliver argued it would be money well spent, and of particular interest to her constituents.
“I think that if we can help get Friends of Chippewa Park across the finish line, this would be a good investment,” Oliver said, adding she gets plenty of calls about the park and its current condition.
Mayor Bill Mauro said he had no problem providing the initial $71,107, drawn from the community partnership program, but not the money requested in the amendment – at least not that way.
“The rest I think I prefer council to deal with it through the budget,” Mauro said in announcing his decision.
Friends of Chippewa Park have at present raised $850,000 of the expected $1.2 million needed to restore the carousel, which arrived in the city in 1915. Committee members have stated they would like to finish the project next year.
Mauro wanted to know what the rush was.
“The urgency to me seems to be a bit of an outlier. You’ve been chasing this project for so long,” Mauro said.
Committee member Iain Angus, a former city councillor himself, said the unrestored horses have operated as is, but they would like to get the project done, and complete it the right way.
“It becomes a more expensive item down the road if we have to so this in smaller lots,” Angus said.
Fellow committee member Donna Gilhooly said the carousel is one of three left in the world and should be treasured.
“It’s a living museum. It’s meant to be ridden. It’s meant to be enjoyed,” she said.
McKellar Coun. Brian Hamilton asked how to get the line item added to the budget process, a good indication it will come back before council in the new year when budget deliberations begin.
