Councillors here want to invest in one of the town’s industrial parks under the latest round of the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF).
The town is applying for $1.3 million in funds for improvements to Palmerston’s industrial park.
At a special meeting of council on Jan. 14, Mayor David Anderson welcomed everyone to the town’s first meeting of the new year.
“We’ve all survived the first week of the year; from here on in it’s going to be a breeze,” Anderson said.
The application, filed under intake two of the CAF, will assist with the funding and servicing of approximately 35 acres of industrial land located in the Palmerston Industrial Park.
Deputy Mayor Judy Dirksen explained the servicing will include a wastewater lift station, roadwork and the installation of santitary and storm sewers and related components.
Treasurer Gord Duff said that about a year ago the town participated a Local Economies in Transition Initiative (LETI) exercise.
“While they were very happy with our efforts, they believed the town’s number one goal should be to have more serviced industrial land available for prospective businesses,” said Duff.
To clarify, Duff said the 35 acres is located behind EboTech and the portion referred to as the Noble Property.
Because of the lay of the land, Duff said the town cannot simply install a gravity-based system.
He said a waste-water lift station is required along with road access for that station.
The updated engineer’s estimate is $1,349,000.
“This program will cover up to 90% (if successful) so our contribution would be $139,000 which we would take out of our economic development reserves.”
“It’s too bad we can’t get 90% funding on all our grant applications,” Anderson quipped.
“It would be nice if we get it,” offered Councillor Rick Hembly.
“… and foolish if we didn’t apply for it,” Anderson said.
Duff added that the reason the special meeting of council was called on Jan. 14, was because the absolute final deadline to submit the application was Jan. 18, but council’s regular meeting was not until Jan. 20.
Council bought the land for the Palmerston industrial park in 2003 and while some servicing was done to front of the property to accomodate some development, work on the back of the property remained on hold because of costs.
Because of the slope of the land, a sewage lift station is required, thus making up much of the cost.
Duff said that this would allow serviced industrial land to be available to purchasers at the Palmerston industrial park.
