The municipality will apply for provincial Connecting Link funding for reconstruction and servicing of Highway 9 from James to West Heritage streets in Clifford, with an eye to completing the $1.25-million project in 2019.
In 2015 the province re-instated Connecting Link funding to help pay for sections of provincial highways that run through municipalities.
In Minto Highway 9 and Highway 23/Highway 89 in Harriston and Highway 9 in Clifford are connecting link roads. The Connecting Link grants provided last year were merit based, and Minto received $1.9 million to design and reconstruct Elora Street in Clifford from Park to James Street. At the Aug. 2 meeting, council approved a recommendation to apply by the Oct. 21 deadline for the James to West Heritage section of Highway 9 through the second intake of the Connecting Link funding.
With a total estimated project cost of $1.25 million, the project would be eligible for $830,000 in grant funding under the formula used for the Connecting Link program.
Since Connecting Link funding only applies to the road portion, any extension or replacement of sanitary sewer and water infrastructure is not eligible for funding.
“Some of the water and sewer expense will be a town cost and some will require contribution from developers interested in connecting to the services,” states a staff report provided at the meeting.
“There’s some large parcels out there that would benefit from servicing in that area,” noted CAO Bill White.
“We would be looking for a substantial contribution from the landowners toward water and sewer at that location.”
The staff report suggests future connecting link work could potentially be phased in the following order:
– 2018 – reconstruct Highway 9 from Park to James in Clifford;
– 2019 – reconstruct and service Highway 9 from James to West Heritage in Clifford;
– 2020 – reconstruct Highway 89 (Arthur Street) from Elora Street to the edge of Harriston; and
– 2021 – complete Elora Street Phase 3 from Adelaide Street to the urban limit of Harriston.
“After several years of highway reconstruction in Harriston it is desirable to focus work elsewhere to re-establish normal traffic patterns and provide relief to downtown business,” the staff report states.
“Reconstruction of Elora Street in Clifford over two years from Park to West Heritage is a desirable project because of the road condition and the opportunity to service larger lots between James and West Heritage.”
The staff report notes the downside of receiving grant funding is coming up with the local share of the money.
“The challenge for all these grant programs moving forward is funding the town share of the grant,” states the report, which indicates the town has received or is in the process of applying for grants totalling over $5.9 million, including the Connecting Link application.
The total cost of the related projects, proposed for completion over the next few years, is about $9 million.
If all applications are successful $2.68 million in funding must be matched with a town contribution of $1.49 million, the report explains.
“If all grants are successful staff will come forward with a financing plan at the 2017 budget. Some increased formula-based funding may help with the town’s share, but borrowing will likely be needed. The water and sewer financial plan anticipates some borrowing, but the issue will be how will the town’s share of roadwork be funded.”
“There’s a real opportunity to get these projects done in a way that has the least impact on our property taxes,” White stated.
