The Mary Webb Centre in Highgate needs a number of upgrades to meet building codes. September 10, 2015 (Photo by Simon Crouch)The Mary Webb Centre in Highgate needs a number of upgrades to meet building codes. September 10, 2015 (Photo by Simon Crouch)
Chatham

Still Hope For Mary Webb Centre

It may take some convincing at Monday night's council meeting for the Mary Webb Centre to get a bridge financing loan.

Councillor David VanDamme brought a motion to council in February, to look at the feasibility of giving the centre a $250,000 interest-free bridge financing loan.

Council approved for administration to go forward with a report.

Since then, Chatham-Kent council approved a bridge financing policy, with stricter lending limits.

The report on the Mary Webb Centre's request is now ready and will be going to council Monday night, but administration is recommending that council does not approve it.

Despite the recommendation and the policy, VanDamme says he's hopeful council will approve the loan.

"I'm hoping that we can look at this objectively and see what kind of economic stimulus we can provide to the community of Highgate -- in particular to the Mary Webb Centre," he says.

VanDamme adds he's hoping council will the look at all the details and listen to the deputations carefully before making a final decision.

"There may be other ways or other opportunities for council to look objectively at what we can do for this group," says VanDamme. "[Whether] that means going to a smaller amount, if that means looking at things in a different way -- [just so] some benefit can be provided to the group."

RELATED: Bridge Financing Policy Approved

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