Council here received an update on local municipal assessment management strategies on Dec. 20.
John Murray and Matt Van Dommelen of Public Sector Digest/Citywide explained the status of an ongoing asset management plan roadmap project.
Council authorized the project during 2016 budget deliberations, utilizing about $37,000 of the $131,000 the town received through the formula-based (not pre-designated) Ontario Community Investment Fund.
Murray noted the consultants have been working closely with Minto treasurer Gord Duff, public works director Brian Hansen and facilities manger Al Carr to ensure the municipality is ready for “some of the federal and provincial regulations that are still coming down the pipe.
“Asset management is service management,” Murray explained.
“It’s one thing talking about managing the infrastructure within the town, but the infrastructure is all about providing services to the community at large.
“So when we think about a road, we’re really providing a transportation service so we can move around freely. When we think about water pipes we’re actually providing a clean drinking water service to the community. So the key thing is the better we mange the assets that we own the better we manage services to the community.”
Municipalities must have an asset management plan to remain eligible for provincial funding.
Murray told council that Bill 6, the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, is expected to be finalized in mid-2017.
“It’s probably going to include an asset management policy requirement, as well as an asset management plan,” he explained.
Previous provincial asset management requirements have focused on core infrastructure like roads, bridges and water works.
Murray said the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which administers gas tax disbursements to municipalities on behalf of the federal government, “now expects every municipality to have a comprehensive asset management plan that includes all the infrastructure.”
Murray said, working with Minto staff, his firm is developing both a comprehensive asset management plan and an asset management strategies roadmap, which provides “continuous improvement to various asset management practices.
“The good thing is with the projects we’re working on with Minto we’re already addressing both of those items, so I think Minto’s going to be in a good place as we’re already ahead of the game,” Murray stated.
Noting there are “some key things we have to do to bring Minto up to best practises,” Murray pointed out, “there’s a lot of good News, and some gaps that were filling.”
In terms of asset management planning, Murray stated, “Things are quite advanced in Minto. We found, first of all, all regulations have been met to date … there’s already a good awareness of asset management and even moving this project along is a good stepping stone.”
In terms of existing organizational capacity, Murray noted, “One weak point is there is no dedicated staff to the process of asset management, which is typical of smaller municipalities. It’s hard to get those resources.”
However, he noted, “You do have a very good cross-functional team that meets and gets together to prioritize the budget … there’s some really good knowledge on staff.”
“This would be a living document it will be changing constantly,” commented councillor Mary Lou Colwell.
Duff said, “It’s basically a two-year project,” though much of the technical work has now been done.
“Our priority over the next year … is how do we pay for it all? So the financing strategy, your mix of borrowing and taxes and reserves and levies, that will all come with the next year,” said Duff.
“We help build strategies,” said Van Dommelen.
Duff said council may have to discuss putting more money into developing the road map in the 2017 budget, but Mayor George Bridge said he believes it’s a good investment.
“We know, with all the bills that are coming down, if we don’t have this in place when infrastructure money is available – and we keep pushing for infrastructure money not on a project base, but on a sustainable base – they won’t go that route without us being able to prove to them that we’re using it properly,” said Bridge.
“I think that’s why we’ve invested the money … we could have fixed another pothole, but I think we have to get to the bottom of where we’re at.”
