Tillsonburg council defers decision on waiving rental fees

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tillsonburg council waived two requests for rental fee waivers from non-profit groups, pending approval of a policy on fee rentals.

Kelly Gilson, executive director of the United Way Oxford, told council members about the upcoming Coldest Night of the Year event and asked for a waiver of the rental fee for the Lion’s Auditorium, where the event is held, while speaking at the Jan. 13 meeting.

United Way services impact one in five people in Oxford County. A local board of directors runs the charitable organization.

“We have local people making local decisions using local money the best way we can to invest in social and human services,” she said during her presentation. “We are 100 per cent local all the time.”

The Coldest Night of the Year, hosted by the United Way, will be held on Feb. 22. Proceeds from the event will fund Tillsonburg Light House, a transitional house in Tillsonburg. Up to seven people can stay at Light House while putting their lives back together. Gilson described it as “a step to move people forward to a better future.” People can stay there for up to 362 days.

United Way covers the operational deficit, which is about $60,000, and staff and program costs.

The program supported 22 people last year, who were able to get the support they needed and move forward with their lives.

“It’s been incredibly successful in such a short period of time,” Gilson said.

The United Way has also helped people with other transitional housing programs and prevent evictions.

Last year was the inaugural Coldest Night of the Year, which involved 122 walkers on 23 teams and raised $42,844.

“It was fun, it was really inspirational, it was encouraging and it was a wonderful way to bring workplaces, family and friends together to address an important need in the community,” Gilson said.

The event starts and ends at the Lion’s Auditorium, where The Mill provides a free meal for the participants and guests. Gilson asked for a waiver of that fee.

Stephen Owen of the Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario told the council that the group is bringing its spring conference to Tillsonburg on April 4 in the Lion’s Auditorium. The group also rents the Marwood Room monthly for $616. Owen asked for a reduction or waiver of the fees.

“We hope to work together on some sort of solution,” he said.

Council voted to accept both presentations as information and the requests be “deferred for consideration upon the approval of a policy for the waiving of rental fees.”