Hub Staff

The Town of Saugeen Shores held a Draft Capital Budget meeting December 6 in council chambers with an overall ask of $15,591,105, of which a proposed $1,209,500 will be funded from the tax levy. This will mean a levy increase between 4.06 and 4.09, said Treasurer Sue Dent.

Mayor Mike Smith said it’s a combination of needs and requests. “I think it’s a number that council’s been in support of and I would always think it would be nice to see it down lower than that. We’ve got a lot of requests and every time people make requests, we get there.”

Town CAO David Smith said town staff gave the best advise to council that will retain critical infrastructure, achieve projects that are important to the Saugeen Shores community to minimize future costs and liabilities.

The Capital Budget is funded in a variety of ways including taxation, reserves, water, donations, grants, gas tax, and development charges.

The larger department expenditures included are as follows: police - $5,294,822; road and roadside work - $4,047,500; new Port Elgin water tower, $1,350,00; parks - $1,016,00; and in the Facilities Budget the Southampton Coliseum requires replacements to floors, boards, and dehumidification unit worth $1,016,000.

Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau stated that he thinks it’s a really exciting budget. “There’s a lot of great stuff in that budget that’s going to get done over 2017, I'm sure,” he said.

Overall the 2017 Police Budget ask was $10,000 for new IT equipment and $5,284,822 for a new detachment build on the corner of Mackenzie Street and Concession 10. If the new police facility is approved during January 2017 budget talks, the quoted cost of $5,284,822 will be split by per taxable lot, $60 dollars over 20 years.

During the December 6 meeting there was dialogue of Bruce County EMS joining in on the project to include a new EMS building within the police detachment. A motion was brought forth by Councillor Mike Myatt for the option of partnering with Bruce County Emergency Services, the motion was approved, and information will be brought back to council on the possible partnership.

Councillors agreed that they want to see a new facility build tendered in 2017.

Capital construction projects sit at $4,047,500 for the year 2017. From annual asphalt resurfacing ($50,000), to drainage pits ($20,000), investments in rural infrastructure ($465,000), and connecting link projects and streetscapes, including interlocking stone repairs (854,000), all made it on the Draft Capital Budget.

A proposed new sidewalk from Mary Street to Devonshire, and Mary Street to Goderich to Waterloo, will be at a cost of $188,500. The sidewalk will be along the west side of Goderich Street and will eliminate the need for Northport Elementary students to cross an uncontrolled intersection on Waterloo Street. Portions of the project will be paid through development charges.

Residents on Bruce Street from Elgin to Falconer could see sanitary sewer and watermain assets assets replaced in 2017, along with an installations of new high-priority trunk storm sewer, and an upgraded sidewalk to the cost of $805,000.

A replacement to the Port Elgin water tower has been proposed at a cost of $1,350,000. The replacement would be a glass-lined, bolted, steel tank that will reduce maintenance costs and have lower lifecycle costs. The Town of Saugeen Shores is looking to secure an Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) grant for the project which would cover $1,065,136 of the total cost. The rest would come from water and development charges.

Southampton’s Coliseum requires and estimated $1,021,000 interior facelift, including the replacement of the dehumidification units as the risk of a leak could potentially close the facility in mid season, impacting hundreds of users. The project will be dependent on grant funding as half a million dollars would come from the grant. The Coliseum’s Green Room has been getting more use and the town would like to spend $15,000 on an air conditioning system as well as $6,000 on a new sound system.

Many proposed capital projects see the Draft Parks Budget for 2017 sit at $1,016,000.
The proposed splash pads in North Shore Park and Jubilee Park see a total funding of $518,000, which included operational costs deferred from the Operations Budget. A total of $105,000 for the two projects will come from reserve funds, while $413,000 will, and has, come from donations.

The infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer in Fairy Lake sees a recommended budget of $225,000 used to combat the spread. It has been proposed by the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority that up to 500 trees be removed from the Southampton park, which will come from reserves.

Coulter Parkette has been identified as a long term capital project. Plans to remove existing interlocking brick, gardens; and signage, and replacing it with poured, decorative concrete and street furniture will help upkeep the aesthetic of the well-used area. The project is estimated at $145,000 which will come from reserves.

A new bridge at the Port Elgin Town Pond has been proposed for $20,000, which will be paid for through taxation; as will $50,000 for trail improvements at North Shore Park, from root damage to stretches of pathway. The Biener Park ball diamonds require improvements to the backstop and parking, worth $20,000.

The Saugeen Shores Fire Department is asking for $167,000 for many projects in 2017. From hose replacements ($5,000), digital radio equipment ($16,000) to firefighter PPE replacement gear ($35,000). The Southampton station requests a replacement shed that would also house splash pad equipment ($80,000) and a new driveway ($15,000). After acquiring a new training area, the former Port Elgin Skate Park, Chief Eagleson requested $16,000 to enhance it by including simple building structures.

Council will review both the Operational and Capital budgets proposed at a tentatively scheduled January 16 meeting before the 2017 budget is brought forth during a January 23, Saugeen Shores Council meeting.

Purposed location for the new Saugeen Shores police detachment.