The Sorting Gap Marina in Fort Frances could be heading to private hands.
The town’s Community Services committee supports a recommendation to seek ‘Requests for Proposal’ to see if there is any interest from the private sector to run the facility on a leasing arrangement.
The site was operated on a lease shortly after it was constructed in the 1990s. The town took over operations in 2002.
Recreation and Culture Manager Aaron Bisson says it might now be a good time to consider leasing out the site again.
“The Sorting Gap Marina, in my opinion, is better suited for operation by a for-profit business that can expand on what’s currently offered there and provide an even better experience down on our waterfront,” says Bisson.
Chief Administrative Officer Doug Brown agrees.
“We need to expand our commercial thing, and it doesn’t really make sense for the town to keep doing this if we want expansion and private business down in this area in the future,” says Brown.
Questions about how future operations may look like were raised during the committee’s discussions.
Bisson says many of those issues could be deal with in any proposal the town signs with a prospective operator.
Mayor June Caul likes the idea.
“I think if we have someone take this over or have the opportunity to even expand a business there, it would be the beginning of what can happen and hopefully will happen at Shevlin Woodyard,” says Caul.
The proposal is expected to come before town council for their approval next week.
