Centre Wellington council has approved an estimated $200,000 for debris cleanup – retroactively.
The cost to pick up debris from fallen trees and branches stems from December’s ice storm.
In a report to council, managing director of corporate services Wes Snarr recommended council approve the costs from Grand River Tree Service of Elora and Davey Tree Service of Kitchener under the township’s emergency purchasing procedures.
Snarr’s report clarified the township intends to apply to the province under the recently announced Ice Storm Assistance Program, which aims to help municipalities and conservation authorities cover extraordinary costs incurred as a result of the Dec. 21 to 22 storm.
The program allows eligible expenses incurred up to June 22, such as opening warming centres, and incremental recovery costs required to protect public health and safety, such as debris clean-up. Contracted cleanup efforts may also be claimed. The deadline for claim submissions is Aug. 31.
“Given that there is a narrow window to complete the debris clean-up due to the late winter thaw as well as recent approval to assist in funding this activity and other expenses stemming from the ice storm, staff immediately searched for potential service providers who would be committed to complete such a sizable project having necessary equipment continually dedicated to the project.”
Snarr noted the contracted pickup service deals with the rural areas. Urban centre debris collection will be serviced by public works staff.
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen noted that while this was being done retroactively, he wanted to know the normal time frame it would take for a similar process. He also wanted to know how many companies were approached.
Snarr said a tender of this value would typically be posted for 15 days and since it was not a budgeted item, it would have to be approved by council, meaning it could take a month or more.
Managing director of infrastructure Colin Baker stated three companies were contacted to undertake the work, but only two were available.
Baker said the township had experience with both firms, adding, “every municipality is in the same boat as us (dealing with storm damage and short deadlines). There is more work than available contractors.”
In response to adding these costs to the township claim to the province Baker said “is it a guaranteed thing? I don’t believe it is. But we’ll certainly be submitting it to province to be recouped.”
Councillor Kelly Linton asked for some explanation of “the retroactive removal of downed trees.”
Snarr said, “It’s another way of saying the work has already started. That’s it in a nutshell.” He added work was started to meet the June 22 deadline.
CAO Andy Goldie noted emergency purchasing procedures have come into play in the past for issues that must be immediately addressed for municipal operations to continue.
