Upper levels of government are sending some cash downstream to The Blue Mountains for waterworks.
At the Aug. 9 committee of the whole meeting, staff reported that the town has received a grant of $3,466,396.51 from the Investing in Canada Program – Green Stream for watermain replacement and fire hydrant installation.
Staff brought forward a report detailing the grant and a resolution requesting that the mayor and clerk be authorized to sign a transfer payment agreement to receive the money from the federal and provincial governments.
“This is good news indeed,” commented Coun. Andrea Matrosovs when hearing the news.
The grant funding will allow the town to complete some significant system upgrades.
“The (town) has identified ten urban locations as having watermain sections classified as substandard and requiring upgrades. The project will involve 3,205 meters of watermain on sections of eight different streets and installing 31 fire hydrants. Residential service will be hooked up to the newly installed watermain and roadway, curbs, sidewalks and affected driveways will be replaced to pre-construction condition,” accounting analyst, Brenna Agnew, said in her report.
The federal government is funding 40 per cent of the project, the province 33.33 per cent and the local share is 26.67 per cent. The dollar value of the local share is: $1,260,722.69. This was included in the 2022 budget and will be funded from the Water Asset Replacement Reserve Fund.
“I can’t say enough kudos to our staff for getting this done,” said Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon. “There are huge, huge numbers for a town of our size.”
