Council votes to pause any plans to demolish Lost Lake Drop-In Centre and Hudson Community Hall, votes to consult with Hudson residents on the establishment of a Municipal Services Board

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout Municipal Council has voted, at their Jan. 21 Regular Council Meeting, that, “Council, respecting recreation, leisure, and community events in and for the community of Hudson directs staff to: 
•    pause any plans to apply for funding for, and to renovate the Hudson Fire Hall to provide for a community recreation/leisure space; 
•    pause any plans to demolish the Lost Lake Drop-in Centre and the Hudson Hall, until such time as Council directs otherwise, and following the implementation of the additional direction in this Resolution; 
•    consult with the residents of Hudson on the establishment of a Municipal Services Board - a “Hudson Recreation, Leisure and Community Events Commission” - and, if there is community interest, proceed with the development of By-laws to establish the Municipal Services Board; and
•    report back to Council on these initiatives by spring 2026.”
The decision comes following a Community Information Session in Hudson on Dec. 11 where the potential future of the Lost Lake Drop-In Centre and Community Hall were discussed.
At that meeting, municipal staff spoke with residents about why the buildings were being proposed to be demolished and a proposal to renovate the Hudson Fire Hall into the “Hudson Community Complex”.
Staff informed residents both buildings required extensive repairs, were found to have asbestos, and did not meet modern standards.
Staff did note that the asbestos was not harmful to the public if not disturbed.
High maintenance and repair costs were cited along with limited use of the buildings.
Input received from Hudson residents at that meeting helped inform the report brought to Council.
Brian P. MacKinnon, Chief Administrative Officer & Municipal Clerk, shared at the Jan. 21 council meeting that if council provided direction to proceed with a services board, Municipal staff will consult with residents of Hudson in either February or March and if there is interest in proceeding with a commission, probably in March or April the regulatory bylaws to establish the commission would be put together and brought back to council. MacKinnon added that simultaneously while developing that framework for the commission, there would be a call for volunteers, so that council could then enact the Municipal commission, appoint those who wish to serve on it, and hopefully have it operational by May or June. 
Councillor Reece Van Breda stated, “Council and the residents of Hudson need clarify on the future of the hall and Lost Lake Centre.”
He added, “It needs to be this council to make the final decision, not to kick the can down the road even more.”
He continued, “It’s been nearly three and a half years and we’re still having staff reports come to council, go back to staff, coming back to council, and nothing has been done.”
Van Breda stated, “While I am in favour of creating a services board, I’m not really in favour of pausing any plans to apply for funding for and to renovate the Hudson Fire Hall to provide the recreation and the leisure space because the pausing of funding opportunities will be a missed opportunity and as we know, the Lost Lake Centre is way beyond its purposeful lifespan and the hall is not far behind.”
MacKinnon clarified the idea behind pausing the application of funding is so that the commission can look at what the options and opportunities are. 
MacKinnon stated, “The funding that we had been looking at initially to help renovate the fire hall is funding that’s tied specifically to renovations. You can’t use that funding to build new. That was the line of thought then. If we’re changing that line of thought, then we have to look at the other funding opportunities that are out there.”
MacKinnon said funding will still be pursued with input from the Hudson Recreation, Leisure and Community Events Commission.
Councillor Joan Cosco said, “I think it was made very clear at the Hudson meeting that the people of Hudson want that hall and the two buildings cannot fit into the fire hall renovation. It’s not going to be the same thing. If you take down both those buildings and give them the fire hall renovation it’s not going to replace what they have by any means. So, I really think we have to have the commission and the people of Hudson make the decisions for what they need.”
Councillor Cory Lago asked Municipal staff if the Community Hall might be salvageable.
Jody Brinkman, Development Services Manager, answered, “Potentially, depending on how much money council would like to put into it. It’s definitely in much better shape than the Lost Lake Centre.”