The District of Muskoka is getting behind the major redevelopment of a nursing home in Huntsville.
On Monday night, district council discussed the motion to provide up to $10.5 million towards the construction of the new Fairvern Home.
Due to new provincial standards the current facility no longer meets these requirements and would be forced to close.
Council members were curious about how the district could eventually get these funds back, however staff advised this would be discussed at a later time.
One of the options may be for the district to take over governing the facility much like The Pines in Bracebridge.
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison advised it might also be reasonable to instead consider partnering with the Farivern Board, which currently governs the facility.
The not-for-profit facility is mandated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to have an overseeing board, however these board members are volunteers only.
Eventually, the majority of council voted to approve the funding under the condition that the province would provide the other $12 million needed to build the facility.
The other stipulation is that the district will put together a Fairvern Operating Options Committee to develop a governance plan.
The Town of Huntsville has been in consultation with the Farivern Board to help develop this project and has offered to waive development fees and will build a new public access road to meet up with the new building.
More discussions regarding the Fairvern redevelopment will kick off in the new year.