A Wellington North councillor is hoping the provincial government will come up with about 90 percent funding for a $1.1- million bridge repair.
Andy Lennox told council at its Dec. 3 meeting the bridge at the south end of town on Highway 6, which was recently rededicated as the Rick Hopkins Memorial Bridge in honour of the OPP officer who gave his life in the line of duty in 1982, is in need of repair.
Lennox said the works committee he heads up concluded, “that the deck beams as well as bearing plates are cracked which represents a significant loss in structural capacity.”
“The bridge is getting in such terrible shape we might have to block off pedestrian traffic across that bridge,” he told council.
Lennox will investigate whether potential funding will come from the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO).
In a related matter, Mayor Ray Tout said the township had received “a very nice thank you” from the Hopkins family for the dedication.
Two new tanker trucks
KENILWORTH – Wellington North will move ahead with the purchase of two tanker trucks for its fire service.
Councillor Mark Goetz, chairman of the fire committee, said the service has substantial money in its reserves to purchase the trucks for around $441,000 for the Arthur and Mount Forest fire stations.
The equipment is being purchased from Brampton-based Dependable Emergency Vehicles.
Finance committee chairman councillor Andy Lennox said the purchase “should have no budget impact because the money has been built into reserves.”
Goodwill road tour complete
KENILWORTH – Wellington County’s “goodwill road tour,” stopped by the township council meeting here Monday evening.
Wellington North was the final destination for the tour which had senior county department heads explaining how their departments function for local councillors. The tour has already met with the other six municipal councils.
The department heads attended at the beginning of the council meeting, while Warden Chris White showed up closer to 8:30pm after his own council meeting had concluded early.
“Sometimes the county needs local input,” White said of the reason for the tours.
Councillor Dan Yake welcomed the visit and presentations by county staff.
“In my time on council that’s the first time that’s happened,” Yake said of the presentations. “They didn’t just say hello, they gave a good explanation of what they do at the county.”
