CENTRE WELLINGTON – There are plenty of capital projects needed in the township and staff sought direction from council at its committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 16 to include them, or not, as they work on the 2024 draft capital budget.
Staff also sought direction on the preliminary draft bridge and major culvert 10-year plan.
There are 83 items listed on the preliminary draft capital budget – items ranging from repaving the parking lot outside the Jefferson Elora Community Centre, estimated to cost $300,000, to painting the water tower in Elora inside and out, at a cost of $315,000, to new washrooms and a playground at the Milburn Park splashpad, estimated to cost $40,000.
The new operations centre, on land on Gartshore Street purchased by the township in 2021, shows up in the 2024 budget with a cost of $1.79 million to fund earthworks and the installation of services.
The total cost of construction at the operations centre is expected to total $16.5 million. Construction is to begin in earnest in 2025.
There are several studies in the 2024 draft capital project budget as well, including an active transportation and mobility master plan, a parks and recreation master plan, an economic development and tourism strategic plan, and a development planning policy.
The master plans will guide the need for and location of new facilities, programs and strategies and position the township for growth.
And of course, plenty of road and bridge work is expected as well.
Some examples include:
- to accommodate the Ainley development in Elora/Salem, off-site improvements are required to Gerrie Road, Colborne Street as well as a sanitary sewer extension through Drimmie Park. Cost: $3.1million;
- located on the 5th Line between Wellington Road 22 and Sideroad 30 in former Eramosa Township, Bridge 4-E is key link between Centre Wellington and communities to the south. This project includes rehabilitation to the existing bridge deck and railing to improve safety and extend the life of the bridge. Cost $450,000;
- 8th Line West, between Sideroad 11 and Wellington Road 17, is to be repaved and have ditching and culvert improvements, to the tune of $1.67 million;
- phase two of work on East Mill Street in Elora is expected to be completed in 2024, and phase one begins on St. David Street North in Fergus in 2024.
The list of 83 capital project totals close to $24 million and can be found with the council agenda on the township website.
Council approved the request to include the preliminary draft capital budget and preliminary draft bridge and culvert 10-year plan in the 2024 draft budget.
That doesn’t mean these items are approved; just that they are included in the list council will discuss more fully during budget deliberations.
Another pre-budget meeting is slated for Nov. 14; council will review the budget on Dec. 7 with an extra meeting date on Dec. 8 if required; and council is expected to approve the 2024 budget on Dec. 18.
