The future of the Reuse It Centre was discussed at the council table, Nov. 18, although no recommendations or requests for decision have come forward yet.
At the meeting, Janet Cooper, Jasper鈥檚 environmental stewardship coordinator, gave an update on the centre, which was started in 2012 as a two-year pilot project subsidized by stewardship reserves. At that time, the intention was that after two years, the centre, which resells used furniture and household goods at inexpensive prices, would be sustainable.
But, to date, it has not yet broken even, so the centre is at risk of closing if it doesn鈥檛 receive further financial support.
Following Cooper鈥檚 presentation, Mayor Richard Ireland asked how long the centre would require such support.
鈥淚s it a question of another two years down the road; is it more seed money or subsidies to get them over the hump and get them sustainable, or is it intended that there will be an ongoing, permanent subsidy of operations?鈥�
He continued to suggest, if the Jasper Environmental Stewardship Society鈥攖he non-profit that administers the centre鈥攊s going to request more funding from the municipality, a business plan should be presented, outlining exactly what is needed.
Coun. Gilbert Wall suggested if a plan is created, it should review the waste the centre has deflected from the landfill, as well as the centre鈥檚 financial sustainability.
鈥淏y the sounds of everything we hear from you and from Monika Schaefer last week and around the community, the success of these operations can be judged a bunch of different ways.
鈥淔ollowing what Mayor Ireland said, I think inside that proposal all of those things need to be taken into account and maybe the best way is not to judge this on its simple sustainability, but on a bunch of different measures, and the more information that can be given on those measures, the better.鈥�
As things stand, the Reuse It Centre has a monthly deficit of about $1,000. That number is down significantly from a year ago, when the centre was losing between $3,000 and $5,000 a month because of high wages and rental costs.
The huge reduction in the centre鈥檚 monthly deficit is the result of the move to the Anglican Church, where rent is cheaper, and the reduction of both wages and paid work hours.
Despite the reduction, as things stand, the society doesn鈥檛 have enough money to keep the centre open. So it is scheduled to close its doors Dec. 31, unless funds are found.
So far, Cooper hasn鈥檛 requested further support from the municipality, but she has indicated an interest in doing so, and on Nov. 18 she explained if she were to make such a request, it would be the same as requesting funds to support the Jasper Local Food Society or the Jasper Sustainability Club for Youth. 鈥淧art of my position is to partner with other groups and help them along,鈥� she explained.
Ireland was careful not to ask for a recommendation from Cooper or the society, but suggested, if there is to be such a funding request, a business plan would help council make its decision, if or when that time comes.
鈥淲hether or not it comes [to council] is the purview of the society,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut if a request was to come forward, the more detail the better.鈥�
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
