BY KEITH LACEY
Even though there?s no federal funding commitment, the city has given staff permission to proceed sooner than later on a huge $23 million rock tunnel sewer project for the city?s South End.
Sudbury?s general manager of public works told council Thursday, he would begin work to assure a much needed $23 million rock tunnel sewer for the city?s South End becomes a reality.
?I can start first thing Friday morning,? said Don Belisle, who recommended work begin on the project or all future development in the South End be frozen because of a lack of sewer capacity.
Council?s priorities committee voted Wednesday to proceed with the project even though the federal government has yet to commit its $8 million share the city was looking for before proceeding with the project.
Mayor Jim Gordon said the city will be diligent in seeking out federal funding and will make that clear to local MPs Diane Marleau and Ray Bonin.
Both MPs have been invited to appear before council at its next regular meeting in two weeks? time. Gordon expects both to show up and commit to doing everything possible to obtain the necessary funding.
?What do I expect as mayor?I expect the same relentless determination I followed when I was an MPP,? said Gordon. ?When this city was pursuing the cancer centre, I was on the phone every day asking ?where is the money, where is the money.?
?I expect MPs and MPPs from this community to be equally relentless?day in and day out.?
Marleau and Bonin have both worked hard as MPs to secure funding for crucial projects for this community, said Gordon.
The South End rock tunnel sewer is one of the most important projects this city has pursued in many years, he said.
?I believe Diane Marleau and Ray Bonin have the level of commitment?they have to be relentless? to get the funding because this community can?t afford to spend an additional $8 million on this project, said Gordon.
?I don?t belong to that school where I say I?m willing to roll over and play dead. I want this money.?
Gordon said this council and community should be outraged the federal government is willing to hand over millions of dollars to Toronto on projects such as the waterfront development and opera house, but can?t commit funding to a project crucial to this city?s future.
The best way to proceed is to begin work with a consultant to design the concept and then approach the federal government again in June or July when that part of the project is completed, said Belisle.
With the exception of Councillor Louise Portelance, council gave consent for Belisle to begin work with the consulting firm to make up drawings.
?We will enter into an agreement with the design architect and work towards completion by June or July,? he said.
After the province committed $8.4 million toward the project, the city then committed $6.7 million.
While hope remains strong the federal government will kick in the final $8 million, council has voted to pay $1.16 million from the sewer reserve fund for 2004 and the same amount over the next five years to reach budgeting goals. If the federal money does come, the sewer reserve fund wouldn?t be touched.
