Centre Wellington Township received some hopeful News early this week when federal officials asked the municipality to resubmit a grant application for paving, sewer and water services for old Nichol Sideroad 19.
“We’re just over-the-moon excited” about having a second chance at the $3.6-million grant, said Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
The township had applied for a grant some time ago and the application was denied at that time. The grant would help pave Sideroad 19, plus provide sewer and water services and paving for Burnett Court and Victoria Crescent at the north end of Fergus.
“We had less than 24 hours to resubmit,” Ross-Zuj said. “This is good News.”
She said the township’s bid had been rejected in a previous grant round, but the work qualifies as it will do a lot for source water protection in the area.
That area is one of the fringe areas in Centre Wellington that was permitted by the former Nichol township, but built without infrastructure like water and sewer, and sidewalks.
There are nearly a dozen such areas on the fringes of Elora and Fergus with no sewer and water services.
Eventually, all of those will have to be provided with services, and the estimate is it will cost millions to do so.
Ross-Zuj said the township has been discussing the fringe areas since 2003, and now officials are very hopeful they will succeed with a grant this time around, because it is rare that municipalities are asked to resubmit grant requests.
