Zorra Township Looks to Collaborate with Oxford County and TVDSB

Wednesday, 8 March 2023 07:45

Zorra Township would like to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Oxford County and the TVDSB so they could collaborate on some new multi-service builds in the Township.

ZORRA TOWNSHIP - The Township of Zorra is looking to join forces with the Thames Valley District School Board, Oxford County, and the Oxford County Library.

Council has directed staff to work with the other parties in order to develop a Memorandum of Understanding so they could collaborate on some new multi-service builds in the Township.

Mayor Marcus Ryan brought forward the notice of motion during last week's Council meeting.

"So the suggestion here is that Zorra staff, Oxford County staff, and Thames Valley District School Board staff meet and talk about if there is a way we could come up with a deal where we could consider the possibility of building these things together, increasing the access of our residents to more services, and possibly even for less dollars if we co-built these things."

The MOU would allow Zorra residents access to community spaces within school builds, and schools access to municipal facilities and community spaces.

Ryan says collaborating with the County and the school board just makes sense.

"So we have an arena in Thamesford for instance that is largely empty from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. every day and we have a gym in the school that is largely empty from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. that night. All of the same people paid for it, all of the same people use it, why don't we make them all available to all of the same people all of the time."

The list of proposed co-builds includes a new joint Thamesford District Recreation Complex which could include a junior kindergarten to Grade 8 school and a public library. It also includes a new addition to AJ Baker Public School which could include a community space, a public library and a classroom.

The Township would also like the other parties to consider a co-build opportunity before any closure, expansion, or consolidation of Zorra Highland Park Public School.

Mayor Ryan's motion was passed unanimously last week and he says this is just the first step.

"There are a lot of complicated details involved in building large infrastructure projects like this. It's not as simple as one elected official saying let's build it together, we need to work through those details and work it out. I definitely have thoughts on where it should go and I am very hopeful of where it will go, but we need to work through those details. The first thing is for elected officials to offer the leadership to say we have to talk to each other before we do it."

The motion is going to be sent to Oxford County and the TVDSB, as well as Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Minister of Education.