Fort Frances council asked to reconsider Sunny Cove Camp sale

A Fort Frances resident says the town should at least try to operate Sunny Cove Camp again.

Council last month voted to sell off the youth camp after because of the cost to repair the facility.

Terry Ogden is asking they reconsider and look at other options.

He says council should at least try to keep it going.

“I would hope we can get to running it at a minimal cost as we did before the pandemic for 10 plus years,” says Ogden.

“If we can’t, I would hope we would try to lease it to another party. Selling it would be a last resort.”

Ogden would like to see an advisory board formed that would review operations.

He says the camp was operating well before it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It operated at a minimal cost and was well used until the pandemic, and then everything seemed to fall apart,” says Ogeden.

“No camp, cabin or house can be neglected for six years and not need a lot of TLC. I feel that’s where we are.”

The town acquired the camp in 2009 from the Kiwanis Club.

Ogden feels the town has a duty to the Club to give it its best shot at reviving the facility.

The sale of the camp after considerable debate over the condition of its main building, Russel Hall.

A lone bid for repairs came in significantly over the town’s protected budget, even with $495,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and the town committing an additional $215,000.

The Kiwanis Club weighed in last November by agreeing that a sale was in the best interest of the town.

In a split decision, council voted 4-3 in support of a sale.

For the issue to be brought back to the council table, five of the seven members must agree.