Kincardine applies for $6 million in projects, including repairs to old town hall

By Liz Dadson

Kincardine Council

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At a special meeting last night (April 22), council debated which projects to submit under the federal/provincial/municipal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the Build Canada Fund Intake II.  The deadline for applications is May 1.

The stimulus fund is providing $4 billion across Canada and is the largest infrastructure program Kincardine has ever seen. "It's to get the economy going and the program has been made as simple as possible," said chief administrative officer John deRosenroll. The Build Canada Fund offers $1 billion across Canada in a competitive process, with business cases required.

Staff provided a list of the projects best suited to each program and their associated costs.

Councillors were surprised to see a proposed $2.2-million gymnasium at the Davidson Centre on the list, given that it has not been presented to council. Councillor Guy Anderson said the recreation committee had just seen the draft plan from the recreation study Tuesday night (April 21) and the gymnasium was the number one choice.

Recreation director Karen Kieffer said there is a need for additional community gymnasium space in Kincardine. "Municipal facilities (and schools) are currently scheduled to capacity and we have waiting lists of groups and participants wishing to take part in recreational programs but unfortunately, there is no gym time available to accommodate them," she said. "Sports we anticipate using this gymnasium, but certainly not limited to, are basketball, volleyball, badminton, indoor soccer, and drop-in programs."

One major project on the list was $2.5 million to rehabilitate the runway infrastructure at the Kincardine Airport. Work would be done on the runway, the taxiway, apron, hangar access road, and tie-down area, as well as associated lighting/electrical systems and accessibility standards for the terminal.

Another major project was $2.75 million to complete the Huron Ridge reconstruction which includes fixing the roads to the full urban road standard, and installing subdrains and sump pump connections to alleviate surcharging in the sanitary sewer system and the spills into the environment. Construction of this work would be done by December, 2010.

Also on the list was $700,000 to fix the Kincardine Arts Centre (old town hall). This work would include improving insulation and air seals, brickwork repair, painting of the roof facade, replacement of windows to arched historic look, replacement of doors, replace flat addition roof, shingle repairs, repair stairs, upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, replace heaters, air-conditioning window unit to be replaced with ductless system, public washroom renovations, improved energy efficiency through replacement of light fixtures, improve accessibility, internal improvements such as new flooring and painting, and potentially return roof line to historic look, including replica bell tower. Further on the list was an accessibility plan at a cost of $250,000, to replace the public washrooms at Connaught Park, and to upgrade the washrooms and entrance ways at the agriculture hall there.

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24/04/2009 09:38 PM

Council first agreed that the airport rehabilitation, Huron Ridge upgrades, and accessibility plan would be the three projects submitted under the stimulus fund. Then council turned to the remaining projects for one to submit under the Build Canada Fund.

Anderson said the gym would give the municipality the best bang for the buck.

"If we can't keep up the buildings we have, why would we build another one?" asked councillor Randy Roppel. His vote was for the arts centre renovations.

"We have $1 million in reserve already for the arts centre," argued Anderson. "They (arts groups) can add to that for a new building. We're not going to put up a new building if we're putting $700,000 into repairing the one we have."

Deputy mayor Laura Haight said her concern with the new gym is that council is being pressured to make a decision in a short time frame and has had no time to consider proper planning for that facility. "We're jumping ahead here because there is grant money available," she said. "We're going to screw up what work has already been done."

Councillor Ron Hewitt said he would have preferred some time to consider the idea of a new gymnasium, and perhaps a joint project with the Bluewater District School Board - the board builds a new school and the municipality builds a new gym beside it. "Our consultant spent a lot of time with the board of education and was told 'no' (to that proposal)," said Anderson.

"There's no extra space at the Davidson Centre for parking," said councillor Mike Leggett. "I'd like to see a new facility built rather than adding on to this one - it's like Lego-land at the Davidson Centre. I'm in favour of the arts centre repairs."

Mayor Larry Kraemer said the three projects already submitted for the stimulus fund mean the municipality has to come up with about $2 million. Adding the gym would be too much for Kincardine to handle right now so his vote was for the arts centre.

"Use the $1 million in reserve to fix the arts centre," Anderson reiterated. "Our consultant said a gym could be built on the east side of the Davidson Centre and extend the parking toward the water tower. If the recreation study states that the number one project is a new gym, that's a $2.2 million project. It would be easier to come up with that money if two-thirds of it were already covered (through grants)."

However, council agreed that the arts centre renovations project would be submitted under the Build Canada Fund.

"Both the Kincardine Theatre Guild and the Bluewater Summer Playhouse are pleased with the facility," said councillor Kenneth Craig. "A multi-million-dollar facility is beyond their scope at the moment - it's way down the road."

"You've spent $250,000 on an elevator and now you're spending $700,000 on repairs," said Anderson. "So, you're not going to tear down that building."

Council also authorized the clerk to apply for 100-per-cent funding under the Accessibility Grant Program for the renovations to the washrooms and entrance way at Connaught Park.