ST. PAUL – The County of St. Paul held a series of open houses last week about an approximately $23 million project to potentially replace water distribution and wastewater collection systems in Ashmont and Mallaig, and the water distribution system for Lottie Lake.
Speaking at the open house held at Cork Hall, located near Lottie Lake, Deputy Reeve Maxine Fodness said infrastructure in the three hamlets is aging and needs to be replaced. Funding is the foremost concern.
“We’re looking for provincial and federal funding... and we can’t expect the residents to pick up that cost,” she said. “Without grant funding, the project probably won’t proceed because the cost will fall upon the individuals living in those hamlets.”
Golnaz Azimi, a consultant for the County of St. Paul, was also in attendance at the Cork Hall open house. She explained the $23 million cost of the project was a 2021 estimate. The project cost is expected to go up every year due to inflation.
According to Azimi, 45 per cent of the project would be covered by general tax revenue, such as roads that need to be dug, and areas of the project that are used and benefit the whole of the County.
Meanwhile, the County would have to look for ways to fund the remaining 55 per cent of the cost, which will go toward the replacement of the water distribution and wastewater collection systems that benefit the three hamlets.
Fodness said council recognizes concerns from affected residents, such as what it would cost them if the lines were to be replaced.
She noted there were also concerns about the recent increase in utility bills for the affected residents, funds that are meant to help cover future projects. The overall increase is $25 per bill – $10 going toward the utility rate monthly fixed service charge for water, and a fixed rate of $15 that goes to the capital replacement fund.
The idea of increased utility bills is a concern she understands. But the question: “How are we going to pay for this?” must be answered, and is it a fair expectation for the rest of the County’s ratepayers to pay for the project?
“That’s where the government grant funding would come in to reduce that cost. Because if the people have to pay for it” it would be costly, said Fodness.
Azimi agreed, adding it has not yet been decided that the 55 per cent portion will be paid for by the residents of the three hamlets. “Because it’s pretty expensive,” she said. So, the County is looking for ways to raise funding through provincial grants, for example.
Azimi said she is trying to get the province to see the benefit and need of replacing the infrastructure.
Aging infrastructure, such as waterlines and wastewater collection systems are a challenge faced not only by the County of St. Paul but areas across the province, according to Azimi.
“There are a lot of small rural villages and hamlets that are in the same boat,” said Azimi, and many of them built their water lines in the 1950s and 1960s, which are reaching their end of life.
For small municipalities, it is difficult to address the problem on their own.
“So that’s some of the things that are important to focus on,” Azimi said.
Open houses were held in Ashmont on Feb. 20, Cork Hall (Lottie Lake) on Feb. 21, and Mallaig on Feb. 22. Approximately 80 people attended between the three communities.
