KAWARTHA LAKES-Council has voted not to rebuild the Omemee bridge next year.
At Tuesday’s Capital Budget deliberations the rebuild was removed from the 2020 budget. Councillor Ron Ashmore says he is disappointed but accepts council’s decision. “I did my best to sell them on the importance of it.” Ashmore told Kawartha 411 News. “We will have to wait until 2021.”
The Mill Pond Bridge on Mary Street East in Omemee was closed to vehicular traffic in May after engineers found some structural issues with it. The pedestrian use of Mill Pond Bridge is still accessible.
In early 2019, the municipality retained the services of D.M. Wills Associates Ltd. to undertake the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and structural engineering and design services for the replacement of Mill Pond Bridge.
During the May 6 Environmental Assessment, which reviewed options for replacement of the bridge, D.M. Wills Associates Ltd. identified a structural issue which required bridge be closed to vehicular traffic.
An Environmental Assessment was completed and recommendations were brought forward for consideration in the 2020 budget deliberations.
Ashmore put forth a motion last month to find alternative sources of funding for projects such as this. He says selling Kawartha Lakes Savings bonds, similar to Canada Savings Bonds, would allow people to invest in bonds and receive a dividend. He says the City could also raise funds by selling equity shares.
“This would assist us in raising much needed capital and take some pressure off of our debt ceiling.” Ashmore states.
Council voted to have staff look into the idea and bring a report back to council in late 2020.
