The Town of Minto will apply for funding for a new Sports field under development in Clifford through the federal government’s recently announced Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).
With the August deadline for submitting projects to the CIIF program looming, council reviewed options presented by CAO Bill White and treasurer Gordon Duff at a July 24 meeting.
The list of potential projects presented included:
– a $120,000 project to create a soccer field in Clifford and relocate the ball field in Clifford;
– a $50,000 accessibility project (expanded washrooms) at the former Harriston town hall building;
– $35,000 in upgrades for the former train station building (Seniors Centre) in Harriston;
– $290,000 for a culvert on Minto Line 16; and
– projects totaling $69,000 at the Lions pool, park and railway museum in Palmerston.
Duff pointed out projects related to recreation would receive priority under the program, so council quickly ruled out the culvert project.
Council agreed the Sports field project best fit the criteria for the program and directed staff to proceed with the application.
White said the Clifford Sports field was “the most shovel-ready,” of the projects proposed.
“Let’s hope we get something,” said Mayor George Bridge.
Nearly $50 million of the $150-million CIIF program is earmarked for projects in Ontario over the next two years. Community and recreational facilities are among the type of infrastructure for which municipal governments may apply for funding. Under the CIIF program in Ontario, applicants must provide a minimum of 50 per cent of the funding for a project, although projects requiring a federal contribution of only 33.3 per cent will be given priority.
Going to tender
Earlier in the meeting, council approved proceeding to tender for the Sports field project.
The tender of Vegeer Golf Inc. for $121,454 to proceed with the reconstruction of the Clifford soccer pitch and prepare a new infield and outfield for a new Clifford ball diamond was approved
The soccer portion of the project, approximately $63,000 is to be funded with a portion of the proceeds of the $181,000 received by the municipality for the sale of the soccer and ball field land at Teviotdale, which will be the site of a new OPP building.
Council has committed to using the proceeds from the OPP land sale to recreation projects in the municipality, so the remainder would be directed to reserves for that purpose and allocated in a future budget, said White.
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk expressed concern about proceeding with work on the new diamond before arrangements to sell the existing one are complete.
“We don’t want to end up with two ball diamonds,” he stated.
White explained the ballpark project hinges on completing an agreement to sell the existing ball field in Clifford, which could be the site of between 10 and 16 new building lots. Proceeds from the sale of the existing diamond would be applied toward the new field.
“The idea is that whoever is preparing the soccer field would also lay the groundwork for the ball diamond as well,” said White.
The town is in the process of acquiring the land for the new Sports fields from the Clifford Rotary Club. The municipality is currently in discussions with local developer Lorne Underwood, who was interested in purchasing Rotary lands which include a portion of proposed site of the new ball field for residential development, about purchasing the old ball field instead. The former ball field is surrounded by residential properties, while the Rotary lands would require an extension of servicing, explained White.
“It’s a lot better deal for him in terms of servicing,” noted Bridge.
Building activity up
Building activity in the Town of Minto is up substantially in the first half of this year, compared to 2011.
As of the end of June, the municipality has issued 98 permits for projects totalling $7.2 million. By this point last year only 79 permits for projects worth $4.5 million had been issued.
