Tiny admin project gets closer with hiring of construction manager
By: Derek Howard, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: MidlandToday.ca, Feb 21, 2025
A construction manager at risk was chosen during the recent Tiny Township committee of the whole meeting, providing a keystone toward the upcoming 2027 administration centre project.
Barrie-based company Bertram Construction was selected out of 15 proposals, which underwent interviews and evaluations by the township since December. According to public works director Tim Leitch, the position would allow the consultant and contractor responsible to deliver the project, “get it built on time, within budget, and work with us during the whole design phase.”
Hiring the construction manager at risk was a milestone for the project road map of the Tiny Township administration centre, which had been one of several ongoing elements scrutinized by opponents to the construction known for their ‘Stop the Build’ slogan.
There were many attempts to obstruct and deny the multimillion-dollar net-zero facility, including a failed globally signed petition to Queen’s Park for a referendum and the citation of ice age grass as a primary reason for halting construction despite it appearing in many locations in the area.
At the regular meeting of council, an interesting open deputation occurred.
Tiny resident Tara Marshall addressed council by repeating a word-for-word submission of a written deputation from Drew Ironstone, which had been denied at a previous council meeting due to his repeating a same-subject topic within the six-month allowance by the municipality.
Ironstone laid out an alternative build that used the current 58-year-old building along with a new campus approach. Marshall read Ironstone’s nine-point recommendations, which included deferring, pausing, suspending, and reconsidering the build and its aspects immediately.
Council members who had ample time to read Ironstone’s submission countered his points later in the meeting on many levels as he sat in the audience.
Coun. Dave Brunelle put forward a verbal motion to consider Ironstone’s recommendations, adding a line about fiscal responsibility, which others on council, including Coun. Steffen Walma and Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins, took as a “slap to the face” before Brunelle retracted it.
While Ironstone conceded the Stop the Build campaign could be “more accurately reworded as Stop This Build” in his writing, Mayor Dave Evans took exception to the recommendations.
“All along, (opposition) has been ‘don’t build anything,’” said Evans. “The person who made a deputation tonight (was) representing a significant political viewpoint in our community, made nine points — nine — all to do with ending the building.
“Some people want to stop it altogether, and that’s where I’m reading this from here right now,” Evans continued. “I told you this on the phone. You’re putting a proposal together that’s very cursory and high-level. We’ve got Simcoe County, who you used to work for at a mid-level range. We’ve got one of the best architects (Unity Design Studio Inc.) in all of Ontario. We’ve got the ancillary staff here, access to all the best people in Ontario, to come up with a number that makes sense for this building.”
After challenging Ironstone’s credentials and experience, Evans added: “You expect us to just stop and pivot 180 degrees because you don’t like our opinion? I keep an open mind, (but) I see no reason, no evidence right now, that your argument is significant or sufficient enough for us to change our course of action.”
Walma noted Ironstone’s pitch had been an option in a 300-page April 2024 report at an estimated $21.5 million compared to the approved project for a marginally higher cost. Leitch further explained how the current building had been subject to nearly a dozen leaks, ineffective HVAC, poor electrical connections to on-site portables, an over-capacity septic system, and more.
Brunelle attempted to have council reconsider Ironstone’s proposal, stating, “I’m sure there’s something we can reconsider at this point in time, because in about three months from now, it will be too late.”
Council did not second Brunelle’s motion, where it lay dead on the floor.
The construction manager at risk recommendation, along with deputation by Ironstone, can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.
Township of Tiny Council approves the 2025 Budget
By Township of Tiny, February 11, 2025
(Tiny, Ontario) The Township of Tiny Council approved the 2025 Budget at the Regular Meeting of Council on February 4, 2025. Staff will report back to Council following the 2024 year-end with any amendments due to projected surplus.
“During this year’s budget discussions, Council made important decisions to keep property tax increases to a minimum, while making significant investments into our aging infrastructure,” said Mayor David Evans. “With our Asset Management Plan as a guide, the 2025 Budget responds to external pressures like contract increases and growth pressures, while also funding the great programs and services residents deserve. This approved budget is a testament to our shared commitment to supporting the Tiny community and ensuring our tax rates remain as one of the lowest in Simcoe County.”
2025 Budget Highlights:
$41.3m gross budget, $18.4m tax supported (net budget) which includes investments in the following:
- $1.47m in infrastructure levy for capital improvements which includes the recommendation from the Township’s 2024 Asset Management Plan to increase the annual levy by 2.39% for spending on capital infrastructure to ensure that Tiny is on track to close the township’s infrastructure deficit within 20 years
- $2.7m investment into 13.6km of road paving and preservation projects
- $850k in bridge rehabilitations including phase 2 of the Withall Dam project
- $630k investment into park fleet, amenities, facilities, and trails including $30k for a dog park in Toanche, Concession 14 and 15 Beach Access improvements, and continued delineation of waterfront property project
- $1.99m for Water infrastructure improvements including $1.32m for the Georgian Bay Estates/Sawlog Bay Watermain Replacements and $450k for the installation of water meter program for Lafontaine (note that these improvements are funded by water rate payers)
- $720k investment in Fire related equipment and reserves
- $650k for financing costs for the Township of Tiny Administration Centre (note: for the average MPAC assessed residential property of $350k, this means a monthly tax bill increase of $1.42 in the municipal portion of the residential property tax bill)
- $200k set aside for the library reimbursement program to allow all households one free household membership at any one of the Midland, Springwater, Penetanguishene, or Wasaga Beach libraries.