Council here has decided to submit funding applications for three projects under the federal government’s Community Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF).
Finance director Sharon Marshall said staff considered 16 projects and ranked its top three priorities as follows:
– replacement of the Station Street bridge at a cost of almost $2.64 million (requesting a CIIF grant of $1 million);
– repair and resurfacing of the interior of the Erin water tower, $140,000 (seeking a grant of $46,666); and
– replacement of the lobby flooring at the Erin arena, $90,000 (a $30,000 CIIF grant).
Mayor Lou Maieron questioned the inclusion of the Station Road project, saying he is concerned because the town doesn’t own the dam.
“I surely wouldn’t want this to lock us in,” Maieron added. “This grant may make the decision for us.”
Marshall explained the town has applied for the most expensive of several options for the Station Street bridge, but if council later decides on another route for the project, a successful grant would still cover a portion of those costs.
But Maieron said he fears the actual cost of the Station Road fix could go up to $4 or $5 million, though he provided no explanation of that estimate.
“God forbid we get the grant, because then out goes our five-year plan,” said Maieron.
He said if successful the town would have to come up with $1.6-million on its own over the next two years, and he questioned why the project has “moved to the front of the queue.”
Maieron then questioned the validity of the project because it is so “localized” in scope, suggesting if the town has a $1-million grant at its disposal, the money could instead be used for a public pool, which would at least benefit everyone in the municipality (the comment drew some strange looks and disapproving comments from residents in the gallery).
Councillor Barb Tocher said the town has approved a two-year solution to the Station Road issue, “But we have to come up with a final solution in that time frame.”
Marshall said a pool was never considered because it is not in the town’s capital plan – and it would not qualify for CIIF funding.
“We felt with one-third funding we better stick to things we already deemed were important,” she said.
Council agreed to apply for funding for the three projects outlined in Marshall’s report.
