Greater Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley
Greater Sudbury staff brought some preliminary roads proposals to a budget meeting of the city's finance committee Thursday night.
Finance committee members were given proposals for a $30 million one time roads resurfacing proposal or another option pegged at $20 million.
Though an attempt was made to include roads in all wards, Ward 6 Coun. Andre Rivest voiced his concern that his ward came up short.
Only one road, MR 80, from Main Street to Alexandre Street, would be included from his ward. That compares to seven roads to be resurfaced in Ward 10 and nine roads to be resurfaced in Ward 8.
“I can't accept this list,” said Rivest. “These areas that need the work in my ward also happen to be where there will be a large growth in assessment revenue.”
Mayor John Rodriguez said it was his preference that the roads resurfacing project be kept at $30 million.
“We have bad roads. I originally proposed $30 million for roads resurfacing to kick start getting them fixed,” said Rodriguez. “I don't want any of this money going anywhere else, even for water projects. We have a user pay policy regarding water.”
Ward 3 Coun. Claude Berthiaume agreed.
“I support $30 million over two years on roads resurfacing. Perhaps with cheaper oil causing asphalt prices to decrease in 2009, we can get more roads resurfaced with the same amount of money,” said Berthiaume.
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann noted that the $30 million proposal would be on top of existing road budgets.
“When you add the $30 million to the existing $66 million roads budget figure that totals $96 million to be spent on roads over the next two years,” said Landry-Altmann.
Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino said these expenditures would be very visible to city residents.
“There are going to be the inevitable road delays with all this resurfacing but, I think the public will be pleased all this work will be accomplished,” said Cimino.
At the finance meeting, it was tentatively agreed to make a final decision on Dec. 8, though one councillor said final decisions could drag into the new year.
