KENILWORTH – Wellington North has published proposed amendments to municipal fees and charges for 2019.
The changes, expected to be officially passed on Dec. 17, include:
– the hourly rate for Freedom of Information requests will increase from $8.75 to $12.55 per hour;
– a new surcharge of $125 for funerals on Saturdays and holidays;
– increasing the cost for fire reports and fire investigation reports from $150 to $200;
– a new $150 charge for impounding a dog as well as a $25 daily fee for keeping the dog in the pound;
– increasing the cost of a zoning amendment from $1,600 to $2,000 “to compensate for additional fees imposed by Wellington County,” states the Nov. 19 council report.
Mount Forest splash pad
Council made further strides on the Mount Forest splash pad, adopting ad hoc committee recommendations on the budget, professional consultation and accepting donations.
The township will enter into a contract agreement with Openspace Solutions Inc. for the supply and installation of the splash pad at a cost of $156,470 plus applicable taxes.
Within that agreement, the township will negotiate additional splash pad features, including a rock, two puddle features and three additional capped heads for future additions.
The township will also bring on an aquatic engineer or pool designer to further “develop pool concepts in consultation with the ad hoc committee,” states the committee’s recommendation.
Councillor and ad hoc committee member Sherry Burke said, “We feel that we are in a position to move forward with the splash pad as long as the additional recommendations are approved this evening.”
Burke added the committee has shifted its approach, realizing it will need help making tough decisions about the design.
“We are not experts and have realized there are a lot of differing opinions,” she said.
Costs associated with servicing the splash pad, including engineering and water services, worth approximately $21,000, will be added to the 2019 capital budget plan.
The township will issue tax receipts to those wishing to donate money to the splash pad or pool projects.
“I think once the public becomes engaged in this process and sees what the potential is, hopefully they will open their wallets,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
Sewer allocations
Council gave 30 sewer allocations to Mount Forest Developments Inc. for 30 semi-detached dwellings being built along 360 Durham St. E. and Church St. N. in Mount Forest.
Though approved by council, Mayor Lennox warned if the amount of allocations continued at that rate, the town could run out.
“I just wanted to draw attention to the fact that we have issued a number of these in the past little while and while it still looks like we have significant sewer allocations still in Mount Forest, at this pace those could disappear relatively quickly,” Lennox said.
He added council and staff may need to look at growing the capacity of the Mount Forest wastewater facility if the need continues to grow.
Referring to the ongoing developments to the Arthur wastewater plant, he said, “It would be nice to get one under our belt before we back the other, but I don’t think it’s that far off if this trend continues.”
