KENILWORTH – Wellington North will see a Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) levy increase of $2,393 in 2020, for a total levy of $42,959.
On Feb. 10, MVCA general manager Phil Beard and MVCA board chair David Turton appeared before council to review the authority’s priorities and budget.
Turton, who represents Wellington North, Minto and Mapleton on the board, said the MVCA has been reviewing its programs, properties and services for the past five years to identify priorities.
“We did this because we have limited resources and we need to be strategic in how we use them,” Turton said, adding the MVCA is working to do the important things well in order to deal with watershed challenges.
Beard said the MVCA’s number one priority is flood erosion and safety, and helping member municipalities reduce the potential of property damage or loss of life in areas susceptible to flooding and erosion.
Beard added global heating caused by the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the potential of flooding. In addition, the conservation authority is dealing with the issue of bluff erosion along the Lake Huron shoreline.
He added there is about half a billion dollars of development at risk because of flooding or erosion.
Beard said the number one priority for 2020 is completing the modelling and developing options for the Harriston flooding mitigation study.
“This work will be incorporated into Harriston’s watershed plan being undertaken by the Town of Minto.”
Beard noted the last time he appeared before Wellington North the mayor had asked if water could be stored upstream of Harriston.
Though that option was investigated, Beard said the MVCA would have to find an addition 525 acres of land (which was not flooded in 2017) to build berms and store water, at a cost of about $25 million.
“The only way we are going to solve this is in and around the Harriston area,” he said.
Turton noted that with a 2020 budget of $3.7 million, in keeping with maintaining its core services, the MVCA operates with fewer staff than in 1990.
In showing the proposed levies, he noted Wellington North’s portion represents only 16%.
“We’re still trying to do more with less,” Turton said.
