Financial future

Montague lays out framework for five-year capital investments plan

The installation of a storm sewer and sidewalks for two Montague streets cannot come soon enough, says one town councilor.

Coun. John MacFarlane raised the issue of installing the infrastructure on John Beer Drive and MacDonald Avenue while councillors discussed a draft framework for a five-year capital plan during Tuesday’s committee of council meeting.

“The sooner the better,” said MacFarlane, noting the initiative has been in the works for about five years now.

Following the meeting, MacFarlane said many of the area residents have voiced concerns and that a petition was given to council several years ago.

“There is an awful lot of water runoff from the pavement into yards, some are running down to people’s houses or it’s pooling in their front yard,” he said.

“The main thing about John Beer Drive, is there is an awful lot of people who walk that street. Especially kids (going to school).”

A draft of the five-year plan did not initially include the projects, which were delayed earlier this year when council voted to re-allocate gas tax funding towards installing a solar power field at Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre and constructing a sidewalk on Fraser Street.

That decision was influenced partially because the town gave the ownership of its streets to the province last year, which means the storm sewer is now out of the town’s jurisdiction.

This means that while Montague can request the project be done, there is no guarantee.

However, Montague still has responsibility for its sidewalks, which cannot be installed before the storm sewer.

Following some discussion, it was decided the sidewalks would be added to the plan since council felt it would let the province know a storm sewer system is a priority.

“Discussions should be started with the province as soon as possible,” said MacFarlane.

The plan will be voted on during next month’s regular council meeting. It will then accompany most of the town’s funding requests to provincial and federal governments.

Other items included in the plan are, in the immediate years, $400,000 for solar panels at Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre, $172,000 for the Fraser Street sidewalk and $100,000 for remedy sludge dewatering.

Projects further down the road include $400,000 for a southside parking garage, $500,000 for a footbridge and $125,000 for active trails and bike lanes.

CAO Andy Daggett said the plan included about $2.5 million in projects, prior to the two sidewalks being added.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of that through funding, but (the plan) gives you an idea of the things we’re looking at and where we might want to spend some money over the next five years,” he said, noting that plan is not necessarily carved in stone.

Daggett said it is rather to show the provincial and federal governments any funding requests are part of an overall plan and not “shots in the dark.”

“(They want to know) it’s not something they’re going to put money in and three years later we’re not going to be able to sustain it,” he said.