The Elgin Military Museum plans to make a decision on which community -- Port Burwell or Port Stanley -- will get the submarine, HMCS Ojibwa, by the weekend.
And the clock is ticking for Central Elgin as it plans to present two options for where the sub could be located before the end of the week.

It was standing room only at the Port Stanley Legion on Tuesday evening as hundreds gathered for a public presentation on the submarine, obtained by the museum back in June thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the federal Community Adjustment Fund.

Commissioned in 1964, the Ojibwa served during the Cold War but never saw active combat.

Purchased from the Department of National Defence, the museum is currently trying to bring it to Elgin county but the vessel's size -- 295 feet long with a conning tower five-storeys high, and weighing 1,200 tonnes -- mean finding a home for the sub isn't easy.

The municipalities of Central Elgin and Bayham have both discussed acquiring the sub -- Bayham sent a letter of interest to the museum on July 15 and has both indicated it has a site for the sub, as well as it has agreed to lease land.

Central Elgin, meanwhile, was contacted by the Elgin Military Museum on June 25 about the possibility of placing the sub in Port Stanley, but the municipality delayed a decision, indicating it needed to hammer out some more details before saying yes or no.
But time is running out for Central Elgin to reach a decision.

"We're essentially almost out of time now. We're looking at probably a decision by this weekend," said Ian Raven, museum executive director.
He noted every document has to be signed, sealed and delivered by Aug. 20 and that includes an identified piece of land and an agreement to lease it to the museum.

Bayham already has a site picked out and has offered to lease a parcel of land for the sub, Raven said.
"What we're doing is giving Central Elgin an opportunity to catch up. If they can match it, that's fine, then we will make the recommendation and the board will make the decision."

Mayor Tom Marks said Central Elgin received a letter on Friday from the museum, asking them to submit two potential locations for consideration as a deadline was fast-approaching.

"That was the driving force. We're going to tell them this week," Marks said. "We're looking for input tonight and we're offering a couple of sites. Then council will have a meeting and we'll make our decision and that will be formal."

Council could meet Thursday to decide the issue of the submarine, he said.

If the public wants it, "We have to (meet then)," Marks added.

Central Elgin has proposed two potential sites for the submarine -- one on the west pier near the breakwater and a second farther to the north of the harbour mouth with the sub in the water.

"They asked us to give two options. Environmentally, We've been told (by a consultant) to stay off the (east) berm," he said. "There's no option on the berm so we've put it in the water or on the breakwater. Whether that's acceptable or not, that's what we're offering."
But one of those two options might already be out.

Raven said placing the submarine in water isn't possible.
"Everything (we've read) has said out of the water and we have explained that to them on many occasions and so why they (Central Elgin) are bringing it up, I really don't know," he said. "The navy won't even consider it."

Marks said placing it in the water is the cheapest option and other communities around the Great Lakes have placed vessels in the water for years without problem.

But all that awaited the outcome of public input, which was enthusiastic Tuesday evening.
"I think it's a good idea and would be a good spin-off effect for everything else," said Port Stanley resident Rod Nicholson. "Hopefully that will bring more people here."

Wife Jan Nicholson added, "Right now from what I've heard it's a good idea as long as people will continue to come.
Rose and Tony Dandridge, also of Port Stanley, concurred.

"I think it might be a very interesting, novel idea," Tony Dandridge said.