Roads department manager Lane Cleroux outlined the plan to replace the culvert on Acres Roads, which was collapsing.
“We did receive three quote that ranged from 53,000 to 62,000.” he said. “The staff does not have time do the size of the operation and the bypass pumping.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin asked if the road was still passable.
“The road is closed, but people are pushing it out of the way.” Cleroux said.
“I thought it was open because it’s been that way for two weeks.” Councillor McLaughlin said. “One is pushed over by queen’s line and nearly in the ditch. I know that everyone’s been traveling.”
Councillor McLaughlin asked if it was part of the maintenance budget, and if they had enough money to pay for it from that.
“No we don’t.” Cleroux said. “We’ve hat 15,000 in our budget for culvert maintenance, which we’ve exhausted.”
“Basically something like this we have money in reserve, if we were in a surprlus position we will use the money.” Treasurer Sean Crozier said. “There’s a few different reserves from where we could take it.
“In House it would take $9500.” Cleroux said “With the bypass pumping we would have to rent, and it would take about a week to complete. It would cost probably 15 to $18,000.”
“I was wondering if we can pout it off until next year.” Councillor McLaughlin said. “$30,.000 is a lot of money. It could be closed off, there’s no reason anyone should have to travel that road.”
“We feel that the culvert is collapsing and should be changed sooner or later.” Cleroux said.
“if there were houses on the road, I could understand sooner or later.” Councillor McLaughlin said. “But seeing there’s no houses on that road, i don’t see why people have to put up with that inconvenience. I’m just looking at the bottom dollar. I’d just as well have it done in-house.”
“If you do it in the winter, it’s never done as well as in the summer.” he said. “Those are just my comments, I’ll leave it up to council.”
“Is there not one house that’s closer to Queen’s line?” Councillor Charlene Jackson asked. She was informed that there was none.
“if this culvert collapses over the winter, where does that leave us?” Mayor Moore asked
“We’d have to close the road.” Cleroux said, saying the other option would be to block the road to traffic and leave the road to fix to spring. “It wouldn’t collapse more with no vehicle traffic going over it.”
He said it was steel covered, and they did not kno0w the age of it. At the Mayor’s questions. And that the repairs would let them get a sense of them.,
Mayor Moore asked how they would go closing the road.
“We would place concrete barricades on either side of the culvert, and place no exit signs on either side of the road.”
Councillor Mackay asked if there were any washing out risks in the spring.
“With no traffic on top of it, it should be fine.” Cleroux said.
“I kind of agree with Councillor McLaughlin, and if we could leave it in the spring, that would be significant cost savings.” Reeve Cathy Regier said. “I would be in favour of it if we could close it off completely. I don’t see the issue.”
“I think if we wanted to close it off, I’d want to see something more permanent like a cement structure at each end. As Councillor McLaughlin said, people are traveling it now, $30,000 are one thing, but a lawsuit is another.” Councillor Jackson said.
“Instead of closing the road, put a sign down there.” Councillor Dave Mackay said. “Farmers are going down that road, farmers wanna go down to their fields. Is there corn still out? No? Put manure out, I don’t know. I don’t think we should close it off.”
“It has to be a permanent closer, if it’s going to be a closer.” Jackson said. “Pembroke Street West has been under construction, it has huge signs on it, and how many people have been going around the sign to get to the West End. rather than doing the detour. People don’t listen to signs.”
“Do we want to entertain this motion and wait for more information?” Mayor Moore said.
“No, either do it or don’t.” Councillor Mackay said.
“The current road has signage to the road closed and we had barricades on, but farmers are still using it to get to their fields. If we were waiting until Spring we would put concrete barriers on either side.” Cleroux said. “I’ve heard from the buslines from the Renfrew County Transport Authority about it. They’re reach out if there’s a road closure need, but I haven’t heard anything.”
CAO Trembley said that the other side of Kerr line is a seasonally maintained version and “there must be a reason why this side of the road isn’t seasonally maintained. If we intent to do this, there are a lot of objects on the budget for next year. Staff is recommending we proceed and take a broader look at if other roads that don’t have houses on there. If there’s signs its being used despite being closed, our recommendation is that we proceed.”
The mayor reread the motion before voting.
The motion was carried. “We will fix the culvert.” he said.
