MH forgoes funding application
By Sue Tiffin
In
a tie vote broken by Mayor Brent Devolin at a July 25 council meeting,
Minden Hills council opted to not submit an application for federal help
through the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund.
a tie vote broken by Mayor Brent Devolin at a July 25 council meeting,
Minden Hills council opted to not submit an application for federal help
through the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund.
Eligible
projects under the DMAF include new construction of public
infrastructure including natural infrastructure; and modification and/or
reinforcement including rehabilitation and expansion of existing public
infrastructure including natural infrastructure.
projects under the DMAF include new construction of public
infrastructure including natural infrastructure; and modification and/or
reinforcement including rehabilitation and expansion of existing public
infrastructure including natural infrastructure.
“Eligible
investments aim to reduce the socio-economic, environmental and
cultural impacts of natural hazards and extreme weather events when
considering current and potential future climate change impacts,” reads
the funding’s eligibility guidelines. “Projects must meet at least one
of the national significance criteria, including reducing impacts on:
critical infrastructure and essential services; health and safety of
Canadians; significant disruptions in economic activity; costs of
recovery and replacement; vulnerable regions.”
investments aim to reduce the socio-economic, environmental and
cultural impacts of natural hazards and extreme weather events when
considering current and potential future climate change impacts,” reads
the funding’s eligibility guidelines. “Projects must meet at least one
of the national significance criteria, including reducing impacts on:
critical infrastructure and essential services; health and safety of
Canadians; significant disruptions in economic activity; costs of
recovery and replacement; vulnerable regions.”
In
presenting the opportunity to council, treasurer/CAO Lorrie Blanchard
noted the funding criteria that projects must have a minimum of $20
million in eligible expenditures, including costs of design and
planning, capital cost, and costs related to meeting specific program
requirements, but also allowed for project bundling, which the fund
criteria information page stated meant “including multiple assets that
work in a complementary manner to reduce the risk within the same time
period.” The DAMF offers up to 40 per cent cost-sharing.
presenting the opportunity to council, treasurer/CAO Lorrie Blanchard
noted the funding criteria that projects must have a minimum of $20
million in eligible expenditures, including costs of design and
planning, capital cost, and costs related to meeting specific program
requirements, but also allowed for project bundling, which the fund
criteria information page stated meant “including multiple assets that
work in a complementary manner to reduce the risk within the same time
period.” The DAMF offers up to 40 per cent cost-sharing.
Travis
Wilson, director of public works, wondered if the township could work
with the county on bundling projects based on the results of a planned
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) flood plain study.
Wilson, director of public works, wondered if the township could work
with the county on bundling projects based on the results of a planned
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) flood plain study.
Devolin
said the LIDAR mapping project could not be done last fall because of
weather, and is planned instead to happen this fall.
said the LIDAR mapping project could not be done last fall because of
weather, and is planned instead to happen this fall.
“Even
if it does get done this year, it’s going to take over a year to crunch
the data so you can actually do something with it,” he said. “The
reality is, we can throw something at the wall, but I would say,
conservatively, we’re two years from today knowing with any
technicalities what that should be.”
if it does get done this year, it’s going to take over a year to crunch
the data so you can actually do something with it,” he said. “The
reality is, we can throw something at the wall, but I would say,
conservatively, we’re two years from today knowing with any
technicalities what that should be.”
Councillors
brainstormed projects that might qualify for funding through the
application, including any potential issues with waste management or the
water treatment plant that had occurred because of flooding. Councillor
Jean Neville raised the idea of an aquadam, a temporary barrier used
for flood protection.
brainstormed projects that might qualify for funding through the
application, including any potential issues with waste management or the
water treatment plant that had occurred because of flooding. Councillor
Jean Neville raised the idea of an aquadam, a temporary barrier used
for flood protection.
“This
would fall under, I imagine, more scrutiny than the National Disaster
Mitigation Program applications would,” said Wilson, of a program which
denied funding to the township for another project recently. “They need
to see a permanent fix, a permanent structure or fix, you know, if
you’re building an actual permanent levee or something like that.”
Devolin
said the funding application, with a deadline of Aug. 1, had
“unfortunate timing.” “To me, the timing of this, we’re just not in a
position to do this, and we’re probably a couple years away from really
knowing how to sink our feet into something like this,” he said.
said the funding application, with a deadline of Aug. 1, had
“unfortunate timing.” “To me, the timing of this, we’re just not in a
position to do this, and we’re probably a couple years away from really
knowing how to sink our feet into something like this,” he said.
Councillor
Pam Sayne agreed, but said she thought it was beneficial to put an
application in and request something at this point, hoping to get what
she called critical projects including rehabilitation of Sunnybrook
Bridge and sewage treatment infrastructure on “somebody’s radar through
an application.” She acknowledged that work done on the bridge now might
look different after results of the LIDAR scan. Councillor Bob Carter
also suggested applying for work to be done on Sunnybrook Bridge. Wilson
said that work done on the bridge to support it withstanding high water
levels wouldn’t deal with the public safety hazard issue of keeping
water out of the downtown area and said he didn’t think the bridge work
was one to seek funding help on.
Pam Sayne agreed, but said she thought it was beneficial to put an
application in and request something at this point, hoping to get what
she called critical projects including rehabilitation of Sunnybrook
Bridge and sewage treatment infrastructure on “somebody’s radar through
an application.” She acknowledged that work done on the bridge now might
look different after results of the LIDAR scan. Councillor Bob Carter
also suggested applying for work to be done on Sunnybrook Bridge. Wilson
said that work done on the bridge to support it withstanding high water
levels wouldn’t deal with the public safety hazard issue of keeping
water out of the downtown area and said he didn’t think the bridge work
was one to seek funding help on.
“This
application is looking for modification or reinforcement including
rehab and expansion of existing public infrastructure including natural
infrastructure so I just don’t think that falls into that category,” he
said.
application is looking for modification or reinforcement including
rehab and expansion of existing public infrastructure including natural
infrastructure so I just don’t think that falls into that category,” he
said.
“It’s
critical infrastructure, essential service, it’s a significant
disruption to economic activity if it’s not done,” said Carter.
critical infrastructure, essential service, it’s a significant
disruption to economic activity if it’s not done,” said Carter.
“I
guess in my eyes it is critical infrastructure yes, the work we’re
doing to it is more preventative maintenance than it is, the bridge is
going to fall down, let’s do it now,” said Wilson.
guess in my eyes it is critical infrastructure yes, the work we’re
doing to it is more preventative maintenance than it is, the bridge is
going to fall down, let’s do it now,” said Wilson.
Neville said the bridge had been compromised because of the high water due to floods.
“It has been deteriorating anyway, why not go for something rather than nothing?” she asked. “All they can say is no.”
“It has been deteriorating anyway, why not go for something rather than nothing?” she asked. “All they can say is no.”
Devolin
said he thought applying for funding hastily could affect the township
later if they applied for something considered “bonafide.” Councillor
Jennifer Hughey asked if there was a financial cost to applying, which
Wilson said there was not.
said he thought applying for funding hastily could affect the township
later if they applied for something considered “bonafide.” Councillor
Jennifer Hughey asked if there was a financial cost to applying, which
Wilson said there was not.
“I
just think if there’s no cost, obviously your time is very valuable and
I appreciate it immensely, but if there’s no financial [cost] we’re
adding to it on top of your time, then there’s nothing wrong with taking
a risk, to submit an application,” she said. “And if you need help,
I’ll happily help you.”
just think if there’s no cost, obviously your time is very valuable and
I appreciate it immensely, but if there’s no financial [cost] we’re
adding to it on top of your time, then there’s nothing wrong with taking
a risk, to submit an application,” she said. “And if you need help,
I’ll happily help you.”
Sayne,
Neville and Hughey voted yes to submitting an application, while
Nesbitt, Carter and Schell voted no, Schell at first saying she hadn’t
decided, and then voting no based on staff’s recommendation. Devolin
broke the 3-3 tie with a no.
