OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor. This letter is in response to a council committee decision Monday. Read the story about that here.
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I read the subject report where an extra $236,000 is requested "for additional design related work for the Centennial Drive Area Improvements Project." This is a very substantial amount of money (34% more!) and I question whether it is necessary.
I note that funding of $694,670 has been approved to date for the project. Total expenditures to date are $526,655 and the project is in a surplus status at this point so there is still over $168K available.
Assessing each item where an increase is requested:
- Additional PIC, Investigation of Alternatives and Management of Appeal - I don't recall you seriously assessed any other sites for the pumping station except for Tim Lauer's suggestion to move it further south which was costed out but surely that effort plus waiting for the Part II appeal does not total $52,000 in additional funding
- Geo-Environmental Investigation - The $79,000 has already been spent presumably without prior council authorization. I assume this investigation revealed pretty nasty stuff in the dirt This does not bode well for when you try and construct the pumping station on reclaimed land on the flood plain.
- Elgin Street Design - $45,000! A portion of this total is to design sanitary sewers to accommodate the development on the former Schacter property. Can you not get the developer to cover this cost? Staff also want funds to "at least explore options to create a tee intersection where Elgin Street meets Cedar Island Road". A very effective low cost solution for this intersection is to simply install a three-way stop. I also thought the sewer realignments on Elgin Street were already costed out when the Cedar Island road site for the pumping station was selected.
- City Resources Required to Complete Project - Staff are requesting $60,000 additional funding. What is this for? There is no explanation in the report.
I note that all approved funding will come from the Major Capital Facilities Reserve which currently has a negative balance of approximately negative $32 million! (This is a scary number!)
I tried to follow this item on TV Monday afternoon when it was discussed in committee but I could not due to a poor connection.
I urge you to really determine whether this is all necessary. I am very concerned how the city is spending money. Moving forward with unknown future expenses for COVID 19 and the new recreation centre coming online you have to ensure every dollar is spent wisely.
Tom Griffiths
Orillia
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