The Town of Parry Sound will not be extending the current contract or seeking another private third party to operate the Town Dock when the current agreement expires.
Instead, the municipality will take over operations of the dock beginning in October of 2025.
Council approved the take over with a 4 to 3 vote at a meeting on Aug. 13. Councillors Joe Beleskey, Paul Borneman and Bonnie Keith voted against the motion.
Mayor Jamie McGarvey, who voted in favour of the move, says the town needs more control over what happens at the dock.
“At this present time, my suggestion would be that we look after the town dock and operate it,” he said. “”It puts us in a better position to control the work that is going to need to be done, and there is significant work over the next few years that has to be done on that dock.”
A condition assessment conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans last year, estimates that the Town Dock needs around $800,000 worth of repairs over the next few years.
In a separate motion, council gave staff the authority to issue an request for proposal (RFP) in the fall of 2024 for the operation of Big Sound Marina by a qualified private operator.
