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Council told roads ‘took a pounding’

June 11, 2014   ·   0 Comments

By James Matthews – Orangeville Council got a snapshot of just how hard the past winter was on local roads.

Council members received a report from Public Works Director Doug Jones on Monday at its regular meeting. In the report, council is urged to draw funds from reserve funds to address additional needed repairs this year.

“Most of the roads took a pounding this winter,” said Mayor Rob Adams. He said many municipalities are in the same boat regarding having to find money to rectify winter damage to infrastructure.

Last winter was exceptionally long and cold. It has had an impact on roads throughout southern Ontario and Orangeville is no exception, Mr. Jones said in his report.

Public Works staff have undertaken an assessment to determine which high priority areas to include in the general road maintenance tender and have developed a list of work that exceeds the budget allowance.

Currently, the Community Infrastructure Reserve fund has a balance of $1,879,011 and the Sustainability Reserve has $1,445,977. Public Works recommends that Council authorize a transfer of funds from the Community Infrastructure Reserve to the operating budget to cover the cost of additional road maintenance.

The recommendation includes $461,150 to allow for resurfacing of parts of Broadway and First Street.

Public Works annually issues a tender for general road maintenance. The work included in this tender can include roads to be resurfaced in their entirety and larger areas that require asphalt patching.

As part of the capital budget process, Public Works identifies roads in need of resurfacing for council’s consideration. Those that are approved as part of the capital budget are included in the general road maintenance tender.

In addition, an allowance for asphalt patching is included in the operating budget for smaller areas that require work. These areas are also included in the general road maintenance tender.

In 2013, the resurfacing of Cannon Court and Cambridge Avenue were approved as part of the capital budget in the amount of $210,000. The allowance for asphalt patching in the operating budget in 2013 was $108,850, providing a total of $318,850 for general road maintenance.

A favourable tender price allowed for the resurfacing of Cannon Court, Cambridge Avenue, Manor Crescent and a portion of Burbank Crescent.

In 2014, the resurfacing of the remainder of Burbank Crescent was approved as part of the capital budget in the amount of $140,000. The allowance for asphalt patching in the operating budget in 2014 was $108,850, providing a total of $248,850 for general road maintenance.

Staff are preparing the tender for general road maintenance to pave the remainder of Burbank Crescent and other high priority areas, which will be brought to Council for award at the July 14, 2014 meeting.

The budget available for the General Road Maintenance Tender is $348,850, which includes the capital budget allocation of $140,000 to complete the resurfacing of Burbank Crescent and an allocation of $108,850 for resurfacing and patching from the municipal operating budget.

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