A controversial drainage project in Guelph-Eramosa is now one step closer to completion.
Last week council approved a $75,000 tender for the 8th Line East drainage work, including 397 metres of open drain plus related road and farm culverts.
The project, which engineers estimated will cost $190,000 total, in the past has raised the ire of some local residents who were not happy with their assessed portion of the overall cost.
Owners of the 66 lots or part lots affected by flooding will be on the hook for a portion of the overall cost – expected to be around $68,414 – with the county and township paying the remainder.
Individual landowner costs range from $75 to $9,514 depending on the benefit they will receive from the work, which includes adding a second culvert on County Road 86, enlarging a culvert on Schaefer Road, deepening open ditches and adding two culverts on private property.
On Sept. 7 council unanimously approved the tender from Hanna and Hamilton Construction for $74,973 including HST. The other three tenders received ranged from $81,258 to $130,063. The work is contingent on the county’s approval of the work on County Road 86.
Public works manager Ken Gagnon said in his report to council the work is expected to begin on Sept. 20 and will be “substantially completed” by Nov. 30, weather permitting.
Gagnon told the Advertiser the tender work will complete the drainage project. He said the township has already paid for pre-engineering costs as well as the work on Schaefer Road, and the county will cover costs for work on County Road 86.
