Huron County Council has turned down a loan application from the Huron Residential Hospice.
The hospice had asked for a $1 million interest-free loan to be repaid over 10 years.
The request generated a lot of discussion at council's budget meeting, but CAO Meighan Wark said the request failed to receive the support of the majority of councillors.
Wark said feedback from councillors indicated they all believe what the hospice does is very important to Huron County, but generally felt it was outside of the purview of county council to provide the funding.
Wark said she believes part of the thinking behind the decision is the result of previous conversations with representatives from the hospice.
She also said the previous council had indicated that they would not be willing to provide operating funding to the Huron hospice and she believes it also had to do with the fact that there is another hospice in Huron County that has not come forward and requested funding.
Wark suggested providing the funding for the hospice could open the door for other requests.
“My understanding from the feedback of council is that while they certainly believe the hospice is tremendously important to Huron County and they value the work that the hospice does, it's outside of the purview of county council to put forward that funding, "she said. “The previous council had indicated that they would not be willing to provide operating funding to the Huron Hospice and I think it also had to do with the fact that we do have another hospice in Huron County that has not come forward and requested funding.”