Kirkland finished 2015 with $1.73M surplus: mayor

Knowing there is money in the bank in case of emergencies is a good feeling. And so Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson was all smiles this week when he announced that the town ended 2015 with a $1.73-million surplus.

For the most part, the money came from government subsidies, and business and transfer taxes, and will be kept in a fund to be used for future special infrastructure projects. To date, the surplus has not been touched.

The 2015-2016-2017 capital expenditure program continues to unfold, but projects completed in 2015 — totalling $4.371 million — include renewing infrastructure and other road repairs on streets like Dufour, Marie-Curie and Timberlea-Trail and Place Terry-Fox, and the replacement of old street lights and traffic lighting with LED lights.

The installation of LED lighting is a big part of Kirkland’s plans for infrastructure upgrades. So far, the LED lights have been installed on the south side of the service road between Ste-Marie Rd. and Mountainview St. and along St-Charles Blvd.

LED lights last longer, use less electricity and are brighter. The plan is to replace all public lighting in Kirkland with LED lighting.

Kirkland director general Joe Sanalitro said the LED lighting project is unfolding in tandem with the infrastructure repairs on roads, which means the lights are installed at the same time as a street is reconstructed. The town completes, on average, five streets a year.

Park pathways and playground surfaces got facelifts and the lighting system on the baseball field at Meades Park was given an overhaul.

A preliminary tally of 2016 revenues and expenditures as of the end of last month hit $58.2 million, which includes $29.8 million paid to the agglomeration for services. Revenues and expenditures are expected to remain on target for the remainder of the year.

A variety of major capital works and special projects are being tackled in 2016.

Road reconstruction is ongoing and playground surfaces continue to be rehabilitated with the laying of cedar mulch. A new sewage pumping station will replace the old one on Hymus Blvd. and a mini-chalet is being built in Bénévoles Park.

Plantings on the town’s islands and the landscaping at the town’s entrances will all be given a makeover.

Next up is the 2017 budget and the 2017-2018-2019 capital expenditure program. A public meeting to discuss both takes place at the town hall Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.