Wellington North council is willing to expend municipal funds in a bid to get provincial grants for two major rehabilitation projects in the township.
Council, at its Sept. 8 meeting, approved applications of intent for water and sewer replacement along Frederick Street in Arthur pegged at about $1.7 million, and recoating and repairs to the Constable Rick Hopkins Bridge at the south end of Mount Forest at a cost of about $1.18 million.
Frederick Street work is being applied for under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and the bridge work under the Small Communities Fund (SCF).
The township had previously applied for provincial funding for the Frederick Street work but was rejected.
The bridge work would normally have been part of the provincial Connecting Link program that formerly provided up to 90 per cent of the money, but has since been cancelled by the provincial government.
Funding under the two new programs was recently announced by the provincial government and is available to communities with fewer than 100,000 residents.
Treasurer Paul Dowber said the township was also looking at a sanitary sewer re-fit on Miller Street, but township engineer BM Ross felt the bridge “may score higher” in the application process.
The Miller Street work would be done in conjunction with residential and commercial development planned for the south end of Mount Forest.
“These (the two projects chosen by council) are for rehabilitation, not growth,” said Mayor Ray Tout.
CAO Mike Givens said the applications will likely include a funding commitment from the township, something he believes “the province seems to look favourably at.”
Councillor Dan Yake expected the province would also like to see a financial commitment from the township that would be expected to come out of reserves.
“They want this type of risk from the municipality,” Tout said.
“They want to see if it’s a priority why haven’t you set aside money for it?”
Givens said of the belief the municipality will have to provide part of the funding for any project being considered for funding at the provincial level.
Dowber agreed the success of any application without a municipal financial commitment would be “highly unlikely.”
“It’s a fairly limited fund, $50 million,” Dowber said.
Municipalities and their associations have been lobbying for a return of the provincial Connecting Link program and its 90% contribution to projects.
“Complaining to the province is not a strategy,” Yake said.
“This (new funding program) pits municipality against municipality for a small amount of money.”
Councillor Andy Lennox voiced concern about having Frederick Street as part of the application process.
He noted the application does not include Wellington County, which plans to repave Frederick Street because it is under its jurisdiction.
The township has wanted to get provincial funding for its work, to coincide with the county job.
“We’ve had two kicks at the cat with this and we’re down to the last strike,” Lennox said.
He added that he felt the bridge was a priority, but was concerned that if the township committed to providing one-third of the project cost, it would set a precedent for other projects.
“Are we setting ourselves up that we’re prepared to go from 90% (funding) to 66%?” Lennox said.
Council voted in favour of the two applications.
