Goderich council has approved funding for the Menesetung Bridge repairs, but not as much as the bridge association was asking for.
At this week's meeting, council approved $50,000 in funding for much-needed repairs to the bridge's piers. The club requested support of $150,000, as the total repair work is estimated to cost around $700,000.
Councillor Randy Gregory said they're likely to find lots of support in the community
"If we contribute $50,000, I don't think they're really going to have that much trouble to pick up the extra $100,000 between now and then," he said. "And it's nothing that's really a closed door, we can come back and take a look at it if they have a shortfall in funding, but my recommendation would be to move forward with funding up to $50,000 at this point in time."
In an email, Menesetung Bridge Association treasurer Mike Dawson said while the commitment brings them closer to their goal, it was disappointing. The association now has $600,000 committed in funds, including a FedDev grant for $200,000, "generous commitments" from the Rotary Club and the Lions Club, $50,000 from Ashfield-Colbourne-Wawanosh and $100,000 that Dawson has personally committed to match.
However, they're still short of the estimated cost by around $100,000. Dawson says B.M. Ross will put this work out to tender soon and if the lowest bid is higher than the committed funds, the association may need to cancel the project and decline the FedDev grant.
"We feel that if the Town had committed the $150,000 we had requested, that the project would be out of jeopardy," wrote Dawson.
Goderich Councillor Vanessa Kelly was hesitant to draw the funds from the community grant program, given the amount of good local groups can do with those grants. But Deputy Mayor Leah Noel said using those funds was the most fair solution.
"It's a large amount because the Menesetung Bridge Association has not asked us for money for 30 or 40 years," she said. "But we contribute up to $5,000 a year to some, year after year after year. Those amounts add up, so I'm quite comfortable to shift everything a little bit."
Ultimately, staff and council decided on funding the request with $50,000 from the Community Economic Development reserve.
The reserve would be replenished with $10,000 from the community grant budget over each of the next five years.