The City of Quinte West has agreed to loan the Quinte Humane Society $1 million to help build a much-need facility in Belleville.

At its meeting Monday night representatives from QHS asked the City for an interest free loan to help them secure their construction contract with Task Force Engineering.

QHS Executive Director Marilyn Lawrie and Chair of the building committee Hank Koudsi said the loan will help them construct an animal adoption and shelter facility, community centre and onsite medical clinic on Wallbridge-Loyalist Road.  A loan they said would be paid back in full within five years.

“That facility should have been condemned, it is a miracle it hasn’t been,” said Mayor Jim Harrison.  “People feel for and support what you are doing.  They have a responsibility to try and make sure what they do is acceptable by the people they represent.”

Coun. David O’Neil agreed QHS is in dire need of a facility however he found the request for an interest free loan problematic.  He pointed to how the City has already committed $250,000.

“I don’t think with what is going on we should be giving any more money,” he said.  O’Neil suggested a 2 per cent interest rate.

Councillors Allan Dewitt and Don Kuntze also expressed support for the QHS.  However, both agreed the funds belong to the ratepayers not for council to loan interest free.

“The City of Quinte West is not a bank,” said Kuntze.  “We do have our ratepayers to be responsible to.”

QHS board member Coun. Leslie Roseblade who spoke in favour of the interest free loan informed her colleagues the group might not need the entire $1 million adding she ‘has faith they won’t need up to $350,000.’

“Once they launch their campaign - which they haven’t even done and they already have over $3 million in place - I have no doubt, by the end of 2022 when their construction is finished that they will have enough money and they might not even need a loan from Quinte West,” she said.

In a recorded vote of 9-3 council turned down the interest free loan.

Council voted in favour issuing the loan to the Humane Society with an annual interest rate of .78 per cent.

Following the meeting, Harrison continued to praise the project.

“We are going to reach out to all of the politicians we can to let them know that this is a very worthwhile project and if there is anyway, they can support it we would appreciate it,” Harrison said in an interview.  “It should be supported.  They have been there a long time in a derelict facility.”

The City of Belleville has already committed $400,000 and the QHS will be asking for a $1 million interest free loan from council at its next meeting.