Lakeshore Advance, 2013-02-13, Page 22 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Financial debate for tourlsm services in Lambton Shores 1
Lynda HIIIman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
It was like pulling teeth last week
as the Grand Bend Chamber of
Commerce presented their num-
bers to Lambton Shores council in
their request for funding for tourism
services they are providing. in the
end, after more than an hour- the
mayor reminded counwii they had a
two-year agreement with the Cham -
her and their job was to decide how
much- not if this group was to get
dollars.
Lambton Shores entered in to an
agreement with the Grand Bend
and Area Chamber of Commerce to
provide tourism related services for
1.anlbton Shores. An informal agree-
ment and funding of $13,000.00 was
provided in 2011 with a formal
agreement signed in 2012 for 2
years. The 2012 funding was
$16,337.00 and the 2013 funding
level was to be determined during
the budget discussions on Thurs-
day. After two hours of discussion,
the amount allotted to this group
was $21,376.20- the cost of the cur-
rent Visitor's Guide.
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OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL
Lambton Shores is currently
seeking individuals interested in
serving on a Economic Develop-
ment Committee to assist in discus-
sions and research geared to busi-
ness retention and expansion, and
to encourage opportunities for
employment growth in Lambton
Shores and to make recommenda-
tions to Council on Economic
Development issues. Deputy mayor
Elizabeth Davis-Dagg is the chair.
There is $30,000 earmarked in the
2013 budget for this committee and
the application deadline is today,
February 13th. 'There was another
$26,00( in the budget for tourism.
At last week's sleeting councilor
Lurie Scott asked Chamber presi-
dent Glen Baillie and manager
Susan MiIIs if they planned on
putting everyone (as in entire
municipality) in the visitor's guide -
not just the members, Mills said
there could he a $30 charge for
those who are not members-- and
they could invite businesses on the
list already established by the
municipality. Baillie (1i(1 caution
though, in consideration of accom-
modations, stating they have a seal
of approval and if someone wants to
be on the rental list, they had to
adhere to the accommodation code
of ethics. in their report to council,
they showed that that 2012 tourism
dollars in Lambton Shores amounts
to approximately $1.2 million. Bail-
lie said, "The parking revenues from
downtown Grand Bend came in at
$600,000. I feel in the long run, any
Chamber support from the Munici-
pality can come from parking
related revenues, as they are it direct
means of measuring success or fail-
ure of our efforts, and (10 not conte
directly from rate payers pockets. "
Scott said they were dealing with
taxpayer dollars and the whole pop-
ulation needed to he represented.
Mayor Hill Weber asked, as he (1i(1
last year in budget deliberations if
South 1luron and other neighbours
were contributing and Mills said,
"We belong to Lambton Shores."
She later told the Lakeshore
Advance that l luron 'Tourism pro-
motes the Pinery Park, flea markets,
farmers markets and other ameni-
ties from Lambton Shores- without
Lambton Shores dollars.
Lynda Hlliman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance
Manager Susan Mills
Baillie explained they do promote
the South i luron's i luron Country
Playhouse, Oakwood and Motor-
ple'x but the Grand Hend and area
restaurants, retailers benefit 1 00%.
Councilor Doug Bonesteel agreed
with the mayor asking if the other
municipalities contribute. It was
suggested that this (:hamper go to
Tourism Sarnia Lambton (TSI.) for
dollars. Mills answered in frustra-
tion stating she has sat at the TL(:
table for two years anti former man-
ager Christine Hregman three years
before that and there was not a
chance they were going to get fund-
ing from that agency. She said they
won't even conte north for their
meetings and it cost her $2,40( in
travel costs to attend. "if we don't
support ourselves, you can bet no
one else is going to," she said.
Weber said they (Lambton
Shores) are making their voices
heard at the county level and think
there is some inovenu'rlt. Councilor
Martin Underwood thought this
Grant( Bend Chamber presentation
should be directed to TSI.. "'ibis is a
municipal responsibiity, not a
county responsibility,' said Baillie
adding that Goderich shells out
$400,000 for their tourism funding.
Ile said this was the first time a
Lambton Shores council has
partnered with the Chamber and
they appreciate the support. Davis-
1)agg said she sensed their frustra-
tion and said they were stuck with
'I'SI. and there is not enough sup-
port throughout the county to
make changes. The mayor agreed
saying they have a county commit-
ment whether they like it or not.
Janet Ferguson, municipal treas-
urer explained that their portion of
the TSI, budget was 12.5% and Sar-
nia's is 53%.
Bonesteel asked how they could
pay $57,000 for Forest's YMCA but
can't afford to help pay the group
who brings in $1.2 million in tour-
ism. "What services do we facili-
tates" he asked.
Council member Ken McRae
asked if the Forest BIA had been
approached about contributing
thus allowing them a say in what
went into the Visitor's Guide. " If
(;rand Bend is taking the lead on
this, it makes sense you approach
the BIA for money," said McRae.
Baillie said that Forest already pays
through a levy while Grand Bend
pays a voluntary membership. Bon-
esteel asked if they could get out of
the tourists business- would they,
referring to them doing only Cham-
ber business and the new Economic
i)evelopment group doing the tour-
ism. Bonesteel said it was not fair to
them to have to keep coming back
to beg for money. "'Phis is not fair
and we need to help out, " he said
although he was only willing to help
out to the tune of $16,337 plus 2%.
Weber said this is a transition year
and maybe once the economic
development group is formed, they
('a11 deal \vith tourism, but its it
stood, they had a two-year agree-
ment with the Chamber and their
decision that day was not if but how
much.
Scott said she is expecting big
things from this new committee and
presently there is no Lambton
Shores brochure'- telling people
who they are and what they do
within the six communities. She
said they need money to promote
themselves. She was reminded
there Is $30,000 earmarked for the
new committee that has not been
established yet. Bonesteel said he is
hearing people are coming to the
Lynda HIIIman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance
Chamber president Glen Baillie
Bend but not spending money and
it is fair to give them (the Chamber)
what they got last year but not to
short change the new committee,
".They can get by on last year's
money," he said. Councilor Doug
Gook said he could not understand
why they were not giving the Cham-
ber, who generates approxi-
mately $1.2 million to the economy
through tourism, at least the cost of
the Visitor's Guide. Ile wanted to
see them receive $21,376.20.
"If you have $30,000 for a com-
mittee that bas ilot happened and it
group that is already promoting the
municipality- at least pay for the
brochure," said Cook.
Davis-Dagg said if there was a
clear indication what they are get-
ting for their dollars, " than ye -
would support more money"
motion for $16,337 was lost a,
Gook made his motion for the
$21,376.20.
Underwood changed his tune
saying the Chamber is something
that already exists with resources
they already have and supported
Cook's motion. Ward one councilor
Dave Maguire was not present at
this meeting.
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