Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Councillors approve borrowing $205M to fund major projects like KED:
When all the legal battles are done, Greater Sudbury will have the money to build a new arena, as well as the other big projects after the finance committee approved borrowing $205 million Tuesday morning. While the projects are some ways away from being shovel ready, city finance director Ed Stankiewicz told councillors that 30-year bond rates are so low, it would cost very little to hold that money in an account. Tuesday's 30-year bond rate was 2.63 per cent, Stankiewicz said, and the city would earn 2.6 per cent in interest on the money while it's in the holding account. At those rates, the city would be paying just $30,000 a year in interest for each $100 million they borrow. Full story here.
Thanks to nameless donor, NHL vs Docs raises a whopping $348,848:
Not only was the fourth annual NHL vs Docs hockey game a big hit with fans, it was an enormous fundraising success. Presented by Vale, the annual game that sees a team of NHL players, put together by Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno (who is also the honourary chair of the NEO Kids Foundation), take on a team of local doctors, led by Dr. Sean Murray, the head of the family and child medicine program at Health Sciences North. This year's game, held on Aug. 11, saw a record-breaking 3,100 fans pile into Sudbury Arena for a full afternoon of fun, including autograph signing with the NHL players. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who matched all funds raised, the game raised an incredible $348,848 for NEO Kids, bringing the four-year total to $790,590. More on this story here.
Another media veteran bids farewell: CBC's Barry Mercer has passed away:
Greater Sudbury said goodbye to another media veteran this week. Longtime CBC broadcaster Barry Mercer has died. Mercer's sister-in-law, Bobbi Kotula posted to Facebook late last night that the CBC veteran had passed away. A cause of death has not been made public. On Sunday, Aug. 11, Kotula posted that Mercer was taking his final breaths. Mercer, 66, retired from CBC Radio in Sudbury back in 2006 after 34 years as a broadcast journalist. His distinctive voice is one many in Greater Sudbury, and across the northeast, would recognize. Hired by CBC in 1972 as a summer relief announcer in Goose Bay, Nfld., his broadcast journey brought him to Sudbury in 1985. He hosted Points North, CBC Sudbury's long-running afternoon show and co-hosted the defunct program Radio Noon.
Partial roundabout opening on Lasalle Extension on Aug. 14:
As part of the Maley Drive Extension project, traffic on the Lasalle Extension will be redirected from the existing road to the adjacent, newly constructed section, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 14. Traffic is being redirected to the new portion of the road to complete construction of the roundabout at the entrance to Collège Boréal. Traffic flows in all directions will be clearly marked with barriers and line painting. The partially completed roundabout, at the entrance to Collège Boréal, will operate as a typical intersection with temporary traffic signals and marked stop lines. This will be the city’s first roundabout on a major roadway. It is anticipated construction on this section of the road will be complete in October, with the roundabout scheduled to open in the fall. Full story and video here.
Concrete spill messes up 10 blocks of Lorne Street:
A 10-block section of Lorne Street had to be cleaned up Tuesday afternoon after a concrete truck spilled some of its dry load along the roadway. The spill occurred at around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon near the Weston bakery building. A Fisher Wavy water truck was called out quickly to wet down the concrete so that a sweeper can clean it up. Workers on the scene said there might be a bit of residue on the roadway for the next few days.
City's proposed winter storm policy aims to inform you, and protect itself:
When a severe storm hits the city this winter, a new policy will see Greater Sudbury declare what's being called a “significant weather event.” Tony De Silva, a roads operations engineer with the city, told members of the operations committee Monday morning the declaration is aimed at alerting residents of increased danger of venturing out on the roads when a major snow or freezing rain storm makes driving dangerous. In addition, the declaration will give staff a legal defence should the city be sued because it hasn't met the minimum maintenance standard (MMS) for keeping the roads clear. Those standards detail how quickly and how often it clears transportation infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, bike paths, etc.) during a storm so they are safe for the public to use. An example of when such a defence may come into play happened in 2017. Greater Sudbury was held liable for $12 million in damages for a November 2000 crash near Cambrian College that left a local woman with profound injuries. The judge in that case relied on the city's standards for road maintenance. Full story can be found here.
Commercial vehicle rollover closed Highway 17 ramp for four hours Monday:
A driver of a commercial vehicle was taken to hospital Monday after the boom truck he was driving rolled over on the westbound ramp of Highway 17 from the Kingsway. On Aug. 12 at approximately 1:05 p.m., officers from the Nipissing West (Sudbury) Detachment of the OPP, Sudbury EMS, Sudbury Fire Department and Enforcement Officers from the Ministry of Transportation, responded to a single vehicle collision on the westbound ramp of Highway 17. Investigation revealed the boom truck rolled over on its side as it merged onto the westbound ramp from The Kingsway. Officers believe that speed may have been a contributing factor in the collision. The male driver was extricated from the vehicle by firefighters and transported to hospital by EMS with non-life threatening injuries. MTO Enforcement Officers conducted an examination of the commercial vehicle and no mechanical issues were found with the vehicle. The westbound lane of Highway 17 (southeast by-pass) was closed for approximately four hours and traffic was detoured through the city. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending.
Wednesday Weather:
Sunny start to the day, becoming a mix of sun and cloud near noon. Wednesday's high will be sitting at around 22. Skies will clear again into the evening with a few fog patches developing overnight. Low will get down into the single digits, sitting at 9. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
