CORNWALL, P.E.I. — Wastewater system upgrades and lights at the Terry Fox Sports Complex are the two major items Cornwall council has submitted for additional gas tax funding this year.
Council voted unanimously to approve resolutions requesting funding for both projects during Wednesday’s meeting, which had just enough members for a quorum.
Coun. Corey Frizzell, Coun. Jill MacIsaac and Coun. Peter Meggs voted in favour of submitting an application for $324,928.45 to fund 50 per cent of upgrades to the North River and Cornwall lagoons.
The funds would also help replace an aging supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.
“It’s the eyes and ears of the (wastewater) system,” said Cornwall CAO Kevin Coady. “It’s 20 years old and needs to be upgraded, but what’s more (important) is it can’t take any more input.”
The application was made to the municipal strategic component (MSC) of the gas tax program, which was developed to help with significant funding projects that benefit communities and province. The component funds up to 50 per cent of projects, although another 40 per cent of can come from a municipality’s direct gas tax allotment.
The remaining 10 per cent would have to be picked up by the town.
Council voted to apply for $220,000 to install lights for the baseball and softball fields at Terry Fox Sports Complex, with the fields currently being used at capacity.
Frizzell said lights would increase available hours and noted national tournaments require host teams to have one lit field.
“We have a world-class facility here and we’re just scratching the surface on realizing its full potential,” said Frizzell. “This will add playing hours and it will allow us to increase our sports tourism in the town.”
The town also submitted two smaller items for the MSC funding, including $16,500 to conduct a study on Cornwall’s utility rates and about $12,800 for a GPS system required to develop and implement the town’s asset management plan.
The MSC, which has funds of $10,310,511 to be expended in P.E.I. over the next five years, chooses projects through a merit-based application system. Priority is placed on categories of wastewater, drinking water and projects investing in growth management or land use planning.
Coady said the wastewater upgrade would be the number one item on Cornwall’s list, followed by the field lights.
