Twelve months following one of the worst ice storms to hit the area in recent years, Centre Wellington is getting almost everything it asked for in damage assistance from the province.
Through Ontario’s Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance program, the township will receive $333,000 towards its recovery efforts.
The ice storm downed trees and interrupted power in Centre Wellington from March 23 to March 25, 2016.
The provincial funds will help with costs associated with tree-cutting and clearing fallen limbs, as well as any other emergency response items.
The Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance program helps municipalities address extraordinary emergency response costs and damage to essential property or infrastructure like bridges, roads and public buildings, as a result of a natural disaster.
The program came into effect on March 1, 2016, replacing the public component of the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).
“Thanks to all of the people in Centre Wellington who worked diligently to repair the damage from last spring’s ice storm,” stated Bill Mauro, Minister of Municipal Affairs, in a press release.
“The province is pleased to offer financial support to help the community recover.”
Centre Wellington CAO Andy Goldie stated the township had applied for funding of just over $334,000, but “a few minor items/costs were not funded based on the ODRAP criteria.”
Goldie added, “The province and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) has been very helpful following up with us right after the event and throughout the ODRAP application process.
“We are very pleased that the province has approved our funding to assist in [covering] our expenditures for the ice storm. Township staff did a great job in providing all the required paperwork to the MMA to ensure our application was successful.”
