McInnis lists Tignish’s 2017 highlights

Town only covering one-quarter of lagoon work costs

“A lot of great volunteers raised money. Kids had a fabulous time on it (splash pad) last summer.” Tignish Mayor Allan McInnis

A new splash pad installed in Tignish’s Bicentennial Park last summer provided kids with lots of fun, Mayor Allan McInnis said during the town’s recent annual budget meeting.

Neither the splash pad nor the new well it required to operate came out of town finances, he reported.

“A lot of great volunteers raised money,” he said, adding the provincial and federal governments contributed funds to cover the rest of the costs.

“Kids had a fabulous time on it last summer.”

Other highlights McInnis mentioned in his 2017 review included a new lagoon which he said the town had been in need of for five years, new pavement on a section of Church Street, a recently-commissioned district heating system installed by Tignish Initiatives, three new businesses opening in town and, for a second time, a first-place finish in the national Communities in Bloom competition.

McInnis said the town is responsible for 25 per cent of the new lagoon’s $1.6 million cost as the federal and provincial governments covered 50 and 25 per cent of the costs, respectively.

The town has not yet heard from the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission how much of an increase to sewer rates the lagoon work will require. McInnis said the town hopes to be able to recover some of the tax costs on the project and that money will be applied against the lagoon loan.

The paving work, McInnis reported, was covered by the provincial government.

The mayor said having the new businesses, Island Weigh, Gaudet’s Engine Repair and Our Family Traditions Restaurant, open in town is apositive sign for anyone considering moving to the West Prince town.

The town office had three fulltime employees and had 11 parttime workers at times during the year.

Looking further into 2018, McInnis reported Eastlink will be adding infrastructure to the fire department’s communication tower which he said should result in faster internet for residents and businesses.