Heritage Funeral Home will be reimbursed for repairs the business made to its property following the Drayton sidewalk revitalization project in 2011.
At the Nov. 26 Mapleton council meeting, funeral home owners Ken and Mary Thompson asked the municipality for $1,865 to cover the cost of replacing a flower bed that was removed during the project, as well as the layer of asphalt applied to their driveway as a result of a raise in the sidewalk grade.
The Thompsons’ original request for financial compensation was turned down based on a report by public works director Larry Lynch. The report concluded there had been no major change in sidewalk grades other than those necessary for efficient drainage.
Mary Thompson once again approached council on Nov. 26 with her request after learning council agreed in October to reimburse Alva Cherry Garage, another downtown business, $2,054 for repairs to its parking lot after sidewalk drainage caused water to pool on their property. Council agreed to defer the matter to the Dec. 10 meeting for further review.
“There were properties that were put back the way they were before the downtown revitalization project and our property was not,” stated Ken Thompson at the Dec. 10 meeting.
“All that we’ve ever said is we would like to be treated like anyone else. Other properties downtown, if they had issues, they were put back and the township absorbed those costs,” he added, noting the business’ concerns were brought before council on previous occasions, the first back in 2011.
“Every time that we asked it was ‘sorry about your luck.’”
Mayor Bruce Whale said the Thompsons had made a good case for the rebate.
“I think you’ve made it fairly clear with the information you’ve provided,” said Whale.
Council approved a motion to provide compensation in the amount of $1,865.
