Wellington County is applying for funding of $100,000 per year for five years to coordinate a central public transportation system in the county.
In 2015 the county conducted a Rural Transportation Study with the Rural Ontario Institute to understand existing service providers and public transit demand levels across Wellington County, explained economic development director Jana Burns in a report presented at the Jan. 25 Wellington County council meeting.
“The result of that study and other economic development projects since have shown the need for some kind of public transportation system in our community,” Burns states in the report.
Burns said the county’s economic development department is currently collecting data on the demand of such a service, forecasting usage and designing a program, “which we hope we can implement.”
A strategy run-through meeting was planned for February with existing service providers and municipalities.
Council approved an economic development committee recommendation to apply for funding through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Community Transportation Program.
Social housing
Wellington County social services Palmerston housing project is slated for completion by the end of this month.
Councillor David Anderson, social services committee chair, advised county council members at the Jan. 25 meeting that the 11-unit project is nearing completion and the date for an official opening ceremony will probably be confirmed in advance of the next council meeting on Feb. 22.
Among the work still to be completed is:
– drywall, painting and flooring;
– interior doors, trim and millwork are scheduled for completion;
– mechanical and electrical installations; and
– completion of a model suite for viewing.
Through the federal government’s 2016 Social Infrastructure Fund and the province’s Investment in Affordable Housing Program, funding of $1.5 million has been allocated for the project at 250 Daly Street, the site of the former Wellington OPP detachment in Palmerston.
Community Improvement
Work continues on a Community Improvement Program (CIP) for Wellington County.
Twenty-seven attendees participated in a municipal workshop and a further 15 in a business and stakeholder workshop held early December, explained economic development director Jana Burns in a report presented to county council on Jan. 25.
Burns noted a significant amount of feedback was received at the workshops, and notes were taken during roundtable discussions to help shape the direction of the project.
“Themes around countywide priorities included providing incentives to businesses outside of the downtown areas, incentives for affordable housing and downtown intensification for affordable living and brownfield rehabilitation to create more industrial park space and employment opportunities,” the report notes.
County officials met with the project consultant on Feb. 1 to review the draft report and organize options for a CIP workshop planned for March 6.
The workshop will again include both municipal and business stakeholders.
“Thereafter we will meet with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to present the draft framework and continue with the final report for presentation to council in June,” Burns states in the report.
