Properties owned by the Village of Burns Lake have different rent agreements with local businesses and organizations, but how does the village decide which properties should or should not pay rent?
According to Sheryl Worthing, Chief Administrative Officer for the Village of Burns Lake, council makes those decisions based on a number of factors that are presented to them such as money available in the village’s budget, the length of agreement and if the organization is for profit or not-for-profit.
Worthing said council evaluates these factors when each agreement expires and is in need of renegotiation.
“As each agreement is brought forward for renegotiation, we work to update them to reflect today’s economic reality,” she said.
A case recently brought forward to council for renegotiation was the Burns Lake Playschool’s building. Although the playschool is run by the Lakes District Child Care Society, a not-for-profit organization, the building is owned by the Village of Burns Lake. The village purchased the building from the United Church over 30 years ago and has been leasing the property to the Lakes District Child Care Society for a symbolic amount of $1 a year.
According to Worthing, negotiations for the new lease of the playschool have not commenced yet.
“We plan to start conversations and negotiations sometime this year,” she said.
Negotiations are also taking place for the Burns Lake Curling Club. The curling club recently requested a free-rent agreement for their upstairs lounge. The village still hasn’t come to a decision.
Other buildings that pay rent to the Village of Burns Lake include the Interpretive Centre, $500 a month; the Heritage Centre, $600 a month; the Burns Lake Library, $500 a month; and Re-load Cafe, $600 a month.
