Following a special meeting on Jan. 13 Erin councillors have provided staff with direction to apply for funding under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).
The meeting was chaired by councillor Barb Tocher in the absence of Mayor Lou Maieron.
CAO/town manager Kathryn Ironmonger explained ODRAP “is an opportunity for the municipality to recover some of the costs we incurred with regard with the Dec. 22 ice storm.”
Ironmonger stressed there were no guarantees, even if an application is made, that the town would get any assistance.
“The determination would be made by the minister of municipal affairs and housing,” Ironmonger explained.
She added there are criteria that outline which types of expenses are eligible and which are not – for example, wages for overtime might be covered, but not the (base) wages alone.
Ironmonger pointed out, because much of the repair work happened over the holidays, a lot of it would be considered overtime.
She said road superintendent Larry Van Wyck has estimated the storm’s impact to the roads department was as high as $200,000.
Ironmonger said part of the application includes estimates of what the municipality believes are expenses directly related to the ice storm. Another aspect is whether or not the town will hire contractors to clear fallen trees.
“Some municipalities don’t have the manpower and are hiring contractors to go up and down the sideroads and then charge the municipality,” she said.
She added if the town attempts to do the same work with existing staff “it is going to take significantly longer to get this cleaned up.”
Ironmonger added the water department anticipates having incurred $10,000 worth of additional work as well.
Though she had yet to speak to Erin fire chief Dan Callaghan, Ironmonger said the cost of setting up warming centres might be covered, and there were no additional staffing costs.
Tocher clarified that for five days, there were five-person teams in both warming centres.
Ironmonger said one of the keys is that the municipality must prove there is a financial burden to the residents.
Based on projected estimates by staff, Ironmonger said these alone could represent a four to five per cent tax increase to residents. She noted other municipalities in Wellington County were looking at applications for disaster relief as well.
While there was a considerable amount of work involved in the application, Ironmonger believed the town should at least try. Van Wyck said costs for machinery operation will likely be greater than the labour component.
“As a result of the ice storm, we’ve encountered a lot of damage – stuff that we normally wouldn’t have,” he said.
That included damage to six windshields of town equipment, “and there isn’t a mirror left on the passenger side of any of the trucks – because of the trees.”
Van Wyck said even if only 50% of the cost is eligible “we’re still getting something back.” He too estimated his department would incur significant labour costs.
“I have men with 130 to 150 hours for the last two week period. That is (up to) 70 hours of overtime,” Van Wyck said.
Councillor Deb Callaghan asked if there was any down side to the ODRAP application.
“Why would we not just automatically apply for this?” she asked.
Ironmonger saw no down side, other than the time required to come up with a cost estimate.
“Realistically, I can’t see why we wouldn’t try.”
Tocher clarified that the application requires a council resolution.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger added, “I think it’s a great idea to try to recoup some of this money. Otherwise who is going to pay for this?”
Tocher added Erin was one of the harder hit areas.
Van Wyck pointed out tree replacement is not covered by ODRAP funding.
Ironmonger said the only area the municipality may have trouble with is proving the municipality does not have the ability to deal with the costs on its own. She noted the township is already facing significant costs, whether it is dealing with Station Road or possible sewers for the community.
Tocher believed the strongest argument is the actual impact this will have on the taxpayers. “If it impacts the tax rate at 2% to 5%, other projects will suffer,” said Tocher.
Van Wyck stressed the Dec. 22 event was the second ice storm Erin had to deal with in 2013 (a similar event occurred in April).
Tocher said the town absorbed the costs of the first ice storm but “the second one has just put us over the top.”
Council passed a resolution to make the ODRAP application.
