Image: Randy Thoms

The town of Fort Frances is considering rethinking plans to have someone take over operations of Sunny Cove Camp.

Town council had voted in April to find someone interested in taking over the camp operations.

The Emo-Devlin United Church Group had planned to take over but backed out, forcing the town to look for someone new.

Chief Administrative Officer Faisal Anwar says because the camp requires major upgrades, it was felt that it was best to keep the camp under the town’s wing for a while longer.

He says this would give the town a better chance at acquiring government grants than a non-project group.

“The chances of funding approval are higher for municipalities under these programs as opposed to a nonprofit organization or any other organization, and we will get better funding,” says Anwar.

Anwar notes municipalities can apply for funding up to $500 thousand. Other groups are restricted to $200 thousand.

A more detailed report will be provided to council in October.

Councillor Doug Judson is disappointed by the change in direction.

“To hear four months later there’s been a change in that direction and really the fundamental decisions in that won’t be within the life cycle of this term of Council, even though we’ve expressed very significant and strong interest in the file, I think that is somewhat problematic,” says Judson.

Anwar says the cost of repairs could also make it difficult getting someone else to run the camp.