Town council here has authorized staff to apply to the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance program to recover costs to the municipality from a major flood on June 23.
An Oct. 10 report from treasurer Gordon Duff stated “severe damage” occurred to both municipal and private property in the municipality during the flood, which resulted in an emergency declaration by Minto Mayor George Bridge.
The report notes the province has replaced the former Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program with the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance (MDRA) program.
Under the guidelines for the new program, a municipality must incur damage-related spending equivalent to at least three per cent of its local taxation levy to be eligible. In Minto’s case this amount $143,373. Once the threshold is met, the MDRA program funds 75% of cost up to the threshold and 95% of costs over that amount.
The report states town staff and engineers estimate Minto will exceed the threshold amount and recommend proceeding with an application prior to the Oct. 23 deadline.
If accepted under the program, the municipality would be eligible for a considerable cost recovery of the uninsured flood-related expenses, the report states. For example, if eligible costs were $160,000, the town would receive a total of $123,325 in funding.
Duff explained that while much of the damage to municipal facilities will be covered by insurance, MDRA helps pay for uninsured damages.
“This is what’s unique about this program – all the damage downstairs in the (municipal office) basement won’t qualify because it’s covered by our insurance,” Duff noted.
“It’s primarily for things out of the office like bridges and culverts and overtime pay and special supplies that we had to get in and that type of thing.”
Mayor George Bridge pointed out the total extent of the damage might not be known at this point, as damage to such things as municipal drain systems might not be evident until spring. He asked if such costs could be submitted at that time.
“I don’t believe so,” replied Duff. “I think we have to get everything in now. It’s easy to quantify what’s already done, it’s what needs to be done – and 120 days goes by pretty quickly … I think if we had any feedback it would be to extend that 120 days.”
Bridge also asked if staff had any idea how many Minto residents had applied to the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians, which provides funds to eligible homeowners, tenants, small owner-operated businesses and farms, and not-for-profit organizations.
Duff said he hasn’t heard much in that regard. However, he noted the deadline for that program is Dec. 1 and urged, “If anyone’s thinking of applying make sure you do.”
He noted information on the program is available on the Minto website and also on the province’s website.
“It’s basic coverage,” Duff noted. “It’s not going to replace all your contents, but it might give you a furnace and some insulation.”
The Harriston Kinsmen also set up a fund to accept and distribute donations for local flood relief.
