"$56"- * 54 r /&84
OGRA wish lists in progress
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
Local mayors and their senior staff are preparing wish lists to present to minis- ters from both the provincial and federal governments and their aides at the annual Ontario Good Roads Association gathe- ring. One Prescott-Russell mayor plans to challenge the province on a longstanding issue that affects all municipalities and their ability to borrow money for major infrastructure improvement projects. Mayor Conrad Lamadeleine of the Village of Casselman andDaniel Gatien, the village’s new chief administrative officer (CAO), will talk to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs’ officials about the debt capacity formula for municipalities. The provincial formula determines both the maximum amount a municipality may be able to borrow as part of its budget planning, how much debt it carries, and how much borrowing room is left over. One feature of the debt capa- city formula has been a sore point for small municipalities in Ontario for years. «The big issue is that water and sewer (project) debts are part of the calculation,» said Gatien. Several mayors from the Prescott-Russell region have argued with the province over the last couple of decades that water and sewer project loans should not be included in the debt capacity formula for munici- palities. The loans for any water or sewer expansion or improvement project is repaid through the user fees that amunicipality col- lects fromhomeowners, businesses, school districts, and others who are hooked up to the local water and sewer service.Themuni- cipality does not use any of its own property tax revenue to pay down those loans. Casselman delegates at the Ontario Good
Roads Associationmeeting (OGRA) will also meet with Ontario Infrastrucure representa- tives about the status of the village’s funding application to assist with the planned sewer expansion project on the north side of the Nation River.The estimated cost for the pro- ject is $7million and the village has applied for the $2 million maximum grant allowed under a provincial community infrastructure support fund. Infrastructure is also on theminds of dele- gates to OGRA from the City of Clarence- Rockland. CAO Helen Collier listed three confirmed items Mayor Guy Desjardins and his people want to discuss with provincial officials. First is getting funding for Phase 2 of the Laurier Street sanitary sewer upgrade pro- ject, estimated at $1.2 million. This would continue and complete work begun last year when there was a surprise break in the aging sewer line near the intersection of Laurier and St-Jean Street.The broken section of pipe was replaced but public works staff reported that a drone camera scan of the rest of the line showed signs of aging at various points and recommended replacing those sections
also before there is another surprise break. Clarence-Rockland also wants funding help with the St-Joseph Street upgrade and expansion, along with purchase of a new bar
screen for the municipal pumping station. Discussion with provincial officials about the proposed combined OPP/fire station office is also on the city’s list.
Water and sewer wants
Provincial officials at the Ontario Good Roads Association conference thismonth will hear a lot of talk fromPrescott-Russell about water and sewer. Russell Township Mayor Pierre Leroux and his staff want to talk about getting pro- vincial support for the township’s plans for extending water and sewer services for the 417 Industrial Park. The township has had a grant application in for the project and has been turned down. Mayor Leroux and CAO Jean Leduc plan to explain to provincial staff how important the project is to future economic development in themunicipality and ask for advice on what aid programs may be available. Alfred-Plantagenet Township seeks help upgrading the Plantagenet sewage treatment lagoon through expansion and the addition
of an aeration cell. When the lagoon sys- tem was built four decades ago, it met all provincial environmental standards at the time. The township wants to make sure the systemmeets current standards. The proposed expansion and upgrade is estimated at $2.6million.The township has applied for a $2-million Ontario Commu- nity Infrastructure Support (OCIS) grant for the project and would cover the remainder through a 20-year loan. Help for water and waste treatment capa- city is also on the wish list for The Nation at OGRA. The municipality is looking at a $7 million upgrade of its waste treatment sys- tem, through construction of a mechanical treatment plant, to accommodate future development demands in the Village of Limoges.
d B e The Amazing Flower Shoppe
1 dozen roses $ 19 .99 +tax
Mixed bouquets $ 19 .99 and up +tax
1 dozen long stem roses (box or presentation) $ 49 .99 +tax and delivery
Mixed flower bouquets $ 29 .99 $ 39 .99 $ 49 .99 +tax and delivery
Keep this coupon and get a FREE rose Coupon not valid the week of Valentine’s and Mother’s Day
2254 Laurier St., Rockland
613-446-0600 613-834-2222
MARCH BREAK MARCH 14 - 18 CAMP 16
2095 St. Joseph Blvd., Orleans (Ottawa)
Order Online: www.flowermania.ca
613.834.4334 Tumblers.ca 330 Vantage Dr. | Orleans
G201431_TS
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker