Monthly Archives: July 2024

Stop the Build

Hello Everyone,

We need your support to the “Stop the Build” of a newly proposed administrative office in Tiny which will cost taxpayers over $50M, vs <$10M to build a modest sized facility.   The current town hall is approximately 13,000 sf, and the proposed building is 30,000 sf. More than double the floor space. The proposed building provides an average of 600 sf per employee; in comparison, most offices, including the Simcoe County Admin Centre which provides an average of 145 sf. per person.  Why the need for so much excess space in an era where workplaces are moving to hybrid workforces, which is going to end up significantly increasing our taxes?

We need to ensure that all taxpayers are informed of the dangerous fiscal position that the Township and Taxpayers will be in if this goes forward.

  1. Tobuild awareness, “Stop the Build” lawn signs are available to post on your property at no cost (see below for more information)
  2. FoTTSA has also prepared a petition which is being distributed to all its 21 member associations including the BDRA community.

For the petition to be legal, we require a hard copy with signatures in ink.  To facilitate, our committee will be canvasing the neighbourhood to collect everyone’s signatures in person.  Unfortunately, only registered owners of each residence can sign the petition given they are the ones paying the taxes.  We need your help to get as many signatures as possible, irrespective of membership status.

Please see below for more information regarding the signs; petition; proposed administrative building costs; etc.

Appreciate your support,

The BDRA Committee.

https://bluewaterdunes.org/site1/

WANT A SIGN?

Signs are available free (donations welcome karenzulynik@gmail.com) for pick-up as follows:

  1. Revel Georgian Bay Dream Team Real Estate office at 520 Cedar Point Rd., Tiny (at Concession 16)
  • Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 11:00am; 2:00pm – 4:00pm
  • Saturday 9:00am – 11:00am
  • Sunday 10:30am – 12:30pm
  1. Facebook group page: Tiny Township: Community Discussion All Things Council
    DM Karen Zulynik or email karenzulynik@gmail.com
  2. Reach out to secretary.fottsa@tinycottager.org

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Since December 2023, Tiny residents have expressed their opposition to the proposed new administrative centre using virtually every means available to them, including:

  • three hastily called simultaneous public engagement sessions where participants expressed outrage towards council members
  • a public protest on a cold winter night
  • a petition with over 2,700 names and numerous deputations to Council questioning the lack of public input, the exorbitant cost, and its impact on taxpayers
  • a letter-writing campaign that resulted in more than 6,300 messages to Council and senior staff in five days
  • a second public protest drawing more than 300 unhappy residents.

We acknowledge that the current administration building is in need of upgrading and would expect our council to act in the best interest of all Tiny taxpayers. To date there has been no indication that Council is considering the increasing opposition to the proposed new building.

Tiny taxpayers have every reason to be concerned with the proposed new building:

  • The proposed town hall will conservatively cost taxpayers more than $25 million to build, and more than $50 million after interest costs are considered, versus $8-$10M for a modest addition/renovation to the current facility. This will result in our taxes going up another 20% over the next three years, in addition to the 20% increase already incurred over the last two years.
  • The current town hall is approximately 13,000 sf, the proposed building is 30,000 sf. More than double the floor space.
  • The proposed building provides an average of 600 sf per employee; in comparison, the Simcoe County Admin Centre provides an average of 145 sf. Why the need for so much excess space in an era where workplaces are moving to hybrid workforces?
  • There is a very large unfunded asset maintenance shortfall (details below). Our infrastructure needs are tremendous, and Council is funding a vanity project.
  • Council has disregarded Blackline Consulting’s report (details below). Taxpayers paid for a report that is being completely ignored
  • The location is believed to contain species at risk; a thorough environmental assessment needs to be conducted
  • The current council has failed to abide by the Simcoe County Official Plan. Tiny is simply not following the existing laws and is acting in violation of the Planning Act.
  • Tiny has never had such a large negative response by its residents to any undertaking

An in-depth look at the issues surrounding the proposed new administrative centre plus a summary of events can be found in the Spring issue of The Tiny Cottager… page 1 articles

FoTTSA’s REQUEST for a pause in the process is documented as follows:

OTHER COSTLY TOWNHIP PROJECTS

The Township faces an unfunded asset maintenance shortfall caused by previous councils’ reluctance to raise taxes to a level that would cover maintenance and repair costs. Instead of setting aside $12M per year, successive councils only set aside an average of $4M.

According to preliminary township reporting,

  • Asset Management report shows 38% of our assets in poor or very poor condition, totalling $133 million. Council is proposing a 20-year 2.39% increase annual property taxation for tax funded assets to address the deficit… this was reported at the council meeting, June 26, 2024.
  • 50% of Township’s Water Network assets are in poor or very poor condition resulting in anyone on municipal water seeing an increase of 2.07% in taxes, proposed on June 26, 2024, Council meeting.

BLACKLINE CONSULTING RECOMMENDATIONS

  • A comprehensive report created by Blackline Consulting, an international firm hired to evaluate the operating efficiencies of Tiny, has not been referred to since it was presented in January 2023.
  • It clearly stated that Tiny was out of touch with current hybrid work practices. Most importantly, it stated that in their professional opinion the current staff could be more efficiently organized, and that the operation shouldn’t require more than the approximately 13,000 Sq. ft. they currently occupy. (Proposed building 30,000 Sq. ft.)
  • Blackline’s very detailed report can be viewed in its entirety on the Tiny website here. We paid for it; they ignored it.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

  • Protest, speak Out and Up. Inform neighbours and friends who may be unaware that this outrageous plan is being carried out.
  • Sign petitions demanding a referendum that allows Tiny residents to decide from options that include what most will agree are more appropriate. Renovating the current office with a modest addition at an estimated cost of $8-10M paid for over a short period to reduce the interest charges is one option.
  • Seek out and join the Stop the Build sign campaign so that all Tiny residents and all Council members become aware of the degree of dissatisfaction with this irresponsible plan. 

OTHER Sources of information

Financial Post:

Midland Today:

Simcoe.com:

Scheduled deputations:

Building Project