ELORA – Centre Wellington council approved three contracts to develop plans for paving and re-paving roads in the township, to develop a stormwater master plan, and to begin the studies necessary to build a new operations centre.
Director of finance Adam McNabb and manager of engineering Adam Gilmore presented the reports to council at its May 30 meeting.
Staff recommended that GM Blue Plan Engineering Ltd. be awarded an $83,820 contract to assess the condition of the 257km of roads in the township, prioritize repair needs, and develop a capital and maintenance plan. This contract is $15,000 over budget, which will be covered from the general capital reserve.
Staff also recommended awarding a $209,000 contract to Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Solutions, a division of Wood Canada Ltd., to develop a stormwater management master plan. Staff is hoping to receive a grant that would cover $100,000 of this cost.
“The main objective of the stormwater management master plan is to develop a long-term plan for the safe and effective management of stormwater runoff while maintaining, and where possible improving, the ecosystem health and ecological sustainability of the township’s water resources,” states the staff report.
Officials say the plan “will integrate flood control, erosion control, groundwater and surface water quality and quantity, natural environment and thermal mitigation.”
“This will streamline the (environmental assessment) process for the future,” Gilmore said.
Finally, council approved hiring RDH Architects Inc., at an upset limit of $432,000, to begin necessary studies regarding construction of a new operations centre on Gartshore Street in Fergus.
RDH will “provide all the required site surveys, studies, investigations, reports and concept design for the site plan, access routes, grading, parking, storm water management, servicing, utilities, and site layout including the operations centre facility and works yard, along with the associated cost estimates,” states the report. The scope of work also includes rezoning the property from agriculture to M1/M2-industrial.
The facility will be built in two phases. The first, includes construction of buildings including office space, a garage, storage bays, workshop space, one greenhouse, and exterior works yard and outdoor operations areas. Phase two includes additions to the garage, salt storage, a second greenhouse and potential for minor conversions of the office area.
Councillor Bob Foster was opposed to all the contracts, saying they should be done in-house rather than hiring consultants.
“We should not be hiring consulting firms,” Foster said. “This is a common practice we have that I believe is a problem.” Foster was particularly vocal about the operations centre, which he called an “albatross.”
“We have five good buildings. We should have invested in those buildings,” he said, referring to the existing smaller public works garages the township currently uses.
Council approved constructing a new operations centre last June, and last October approved purchasing land at 965 Gartshore St.
“I’m going to voice my opposition one more time,” said councillor Kirk McElwain. “We should not be rezoning agricultural land. There’s no business case to do it.”
CAO Dan Wilson said 93% of the cost will come from development charges and 7% from the sale of land, noting, “No taxes will be used to fund this project.”
Mayor Kelly Linton reiterated the existing works garages are in poor repair and too small to accommodate anticipated growth.
“If you saw the current centres, you should know clearly there’s a need for substantial investment. This (the new centre) will provide core services to residents.”
