While the motion was defeated on a tie vote, Mayor Glenn Witherspoon thinks council’s decision Monday not to agree to repair Front Street in time for the July 1 opening of Phase II of the La Verendrye Parkway was misdirected.
“It’s too bad,” the mayor said yesterday morning.
“What it amounted to was a $100,000-$110,000 debenture for 10 years,” he noted. “Now, we might be spending $400,000 a year just to patch it up.
“It’s a waste of money,” the mayor added, referring to the fact that while Front Street road repairs may be considered in the 2004 or 2005 budget, this was a chance to get it done all at once.
“We’re putting a Band-Aid on it and for a town that looks towards the future, that’s not the way it should be done,” Mayor Witherspoon argued, noting the town made the right decision when it made hefty but worthwhile investments in projects such as the Townshend Theatre and Ice for Kids Arena.
The repairs on Front Street will not take place this year, except for the stretch of road extending seven feet from the south curb, which was part of the scheduled—and budgeted—work on Phase II of the La Verendrye Parkway project which started last summer.
While no councillor disagreed Front Street was in rough shape and in need of repair, some said the $1.3-million price tag was much too high in the face of uncertain investments, such as the River Walk condominium project, and increasing debt payments to be made this year, in 2004, and beyond.
“I don’t think we have the money to do it,” remarked Coun. Roy Avis at a special meeting of the committee of the whole Monday. “We might have the money in the bank, but it will be a heavy load for the council in 2004.
“It’s not that we don’t want the road fixed,” he stressed. “As it is, I think we’re overspending. We’ve been overspending for the past five-six years, and the day of judgment is going to come.”
“I realize Front Street should be done. It’s a priority, but I don’t see how,” echoed Coun. Cunningham.
“We got into it. We gotta finish it,” argued Coun. Struchan Gilson.
“Any of our councillors who take pride in our infrastructure would say it has to be fixed,” said Mayor Witherspoon.
“If we are going to save money here, how bad are we going to be in 2004? Are we going to be better off doing it then?” questioned Coun. Neil Kabel.
Treasurer Diane Pearson did bring a plan before council as to how best to pay for the Front Street project, which would entail the town paying an annual debenture of $169,000 over a 10-year period, with an interest rate of 4.29 percent.
Couns. Avis, Cunningham, and Sharon Tibbs voted against this, with Couns. Kabel and Gilson, along with Mayor Witherspoon, voting for it. Coun. Dave Bourgeault was not at the meeting.
Fort Frances Times
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