Wellington County is in the early stages of its plan to replace roads operations garage facilities over the next 10 years.
Roads committee chair Gary Williamson gave an update on the roads operations garage facilities in the county at the June 28 county council meeting.
Staff brought a report to the June 12 roads committee meeting outlining the current status of the six county garages, excluding Drayton, which is currently being built.
Four of the six are slated to be replaced between 2019 and 2027 including:
– Arthur Garage which is 46 years old and slated to be replaced in 2021;
– Erin garage, 48 years old, replacement in 2024;
– Brucedale garage, 60 years old, replacement in 2024; and
– Harriston garage, 47 years old, replacement in 2027;
The Aberfoyle and Elora garages are 40 and 33 years old respectively, and both are slated for replacement after 2030.
“We’re moving forward with the next works yard, which is in Arthur in 2021,” said Williamson.
“We did a road tour … and we actually visited all the shops in the county … and it’s obvious that we need to start this program.”
In the report from operations manager Paul Johnson, it states the four garages are in the forecast capital budget, with Arthur expected to cost $6 million. It is not determined yet if the new garage will be a standalone shop with mechanical work completed in Drayton, or include mechanical work at the Arthur shop.
“The reason for this thought is none of our member municipalities have their own mechanics and as we do, should we offer our services to the member municipalities,” states Johnson.
“If we do that at select garages that means that the shop has to have mechanical services available.”
By adding the mechanical services, it would mean a larger shop size to accommodate those services.
He stated the next steps will be to confirm if lower tier municipalities want the county to use its mechanical services to determine the sizes of the new garages.
New Drayton works garage
Williamson provided an update to council about the status of the new Drayton works garage project.
The report, from construction and property manager Kevin Mulholland, outlines the work that has been completed to date, including continued site grading, beginning installation of a well, starting the installation of fire tanks, masonry installation, continued underground floor preparation and beginning the “earthwork” on the storage dome.
Through the summer, the concrete floor slab will be poured, installation of the pump house will begin, door and window installation will begin, installation of a septic system will be completed and drywall installation is scheduled to begin.
The completion is estimated for the end of August.
Solar-powered speed signs Wellington Road 11
Wellington County roads committee accepted a petition from Heather Clemmer, a Drayton resident, seeking two solar panelled speed signs on Wellington Road 11 in the school zone of Drayton Heights Public School.
The resident said the signs are needed because there is no buffer between the sidewalk and roadway, the sidewalk becomes smaller in the winter due to snow buildup and the OPP cannot do regular radar.
On June 28, council accepted the committee’s recommendation to refer the petition to staff for more information.
