Guelph-Eramosa council has assumed the responsibilities for Fellows Road off of Highway 7 between the 6th and 7th line east of Rockwood. The single 125m road will lead to what is commonly known as the Mudge Industrial Development.
“This is a road to nowhere, it’s essentially a private driveway,” Councillor Corey Woods said at the Dec. 19 council meeting. “What’s the rush to assume the road?”
Director of public works Harry Niemi explained that it was due to the agreement that the township entered in 2008 with the owners.
Woods said that typically when a subdivision is built the developer is responsible for the roads for two years before the township takes over the road.
“To me it would make sense that if he’s building an industrial subdivision in there that they build up the industrial subdivision, however many buildings are in there, people are using the road, we make sure that they put the proper base and the road doesn’t fail, there’s the proper drainage and then we assume the road,” he said.
“If it’s a private driveway to nowhere why is the taxpayer paying to maintain this road?”
Niemi said he doesn’t have the history for the reasoning behind the 2008 agreement.
“We are now in the position we have no right to say “no” to assuming the road,” CAO Ian Rogers said. He added that there is an active site plan application on the property that will offer some industrial development.
“So the positive thing is it’s a road to nowhere but it’s temporary,” Mayor Chris White said.
The township will maintain the road adding 0.05% to the total roads it is responsible for in the township.
