Cornwall to review costs of moving Locomotive No. 17 within 2021 budget

Article content

The future of Locomotive No. 17 took another turn towards a conclusion on Monday.

For the most part, council in favour of a motion presented by Coun. Elaine MacDonald, which asks administration to create a report shedding light on the locomotive’s history as well as the overall cost of moving it to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser.

Cornwall to review costs of moving Locomotive No. 17 within 2021 budget Back to video

The railway museum has twice expressed its interest in acquiring Cornwall’s Locomotive No. 17. A museum official said last month that if the museum was to receive the engine, it would be preserved and stabilized — but not restored to working order. In addition, he also shared the museum was not currently financially capable of transporting the locomotive. If the museum is to receive it, someone else would have to cover the transportation bill.

MacDonald — who has expressed her willingness to donate the locomotive to the museum — was hopeful the requested report could be received prior to 2021 budget discussions coming to and end. It wouldn’t be included in the first draft of the budget, as Coun. Justin Towndale tweeted Wednesday the draft budget is now in council members’ hands.

Article content continued

“I think that this issue is something that has plagued us for years and I think that it’s time that we move because unfortunately, although we can delay the locomotive is suffering the effects of time and it is decaying before our eyes,” MacDonald said on Monday. “Although we pay lip service to the value of our industrial heritage, we have never demonstrated the will to actually act out on it and right now.”

Coun. Syd Gardiner said perhaps the land on which the locomotive sits on — on the corner of Ninth Street and Brookdale Avenue — could be sold to a local business owner who needs parking space.

More On This Topic

Museum would take Cornwall's Locomotive No. 17, if it can get there

Cornwall's Locomotive No. 17 on the chopping block in 2021 budget

More groups emerge to help save Cornwall's Locomotive No. 17

“That was the other reason why I wanted it out of there,” he said.

Administration however made it clear that having a report ready by Jan. 25 — Cornwall city council’s next meeting — would be unlikely. Instead, the report will be presented to council during budget deliberations which are set to begin in February.

That, sat well with three councillors who voted against MacDonald’s motion — Couns. Dean Hollingsworth, Towndale and Maurice Dupelle.

“I am not a real champion of getting rid of any heritage,” said Hollingsworth. “Let’s face it, the old cliché was that if you wanted to get rid of a building in Cornwall, just put a heritage designation on it. We’ve gotten rid of enough as it is. I’d rather pursue other avenues.”

Article content continued

Towndale on the other hand outlined he fully intends, during budget time,  on debating why the city should keep the locomotive.

“This locomotive happens to be on the register of the Ontario Heritage Trust and it happens to be one of only two properties in the entire city on it — the other being the Cornwall Public Library,” he said. “I find it interesting that in 2006 I believe, the city thought enough of the locomotive to voluntarily name it to the list of the register and yet now we’re thinking of getting rid of it.

“Maybe now we’ll have one location that is designated throughout the city.”

The city set aside $100,000 in 2017 to cover a portion of any restoration and moving costs, which was acknowledged to be insufficient to complete the work. Council is having this discussion again because during a review in December of reserve funds, Coun. Eric Bergeron asked why that amount was still sitting unused and that it be tabled as part of budget discussions.

fracine@postmedia.com

twitter.com/FrancisRacine