Oxford Opens Purse Strings for Needed Repairs
Whenever tax money is being spent, Oxford town councillors take care to ensure the public that their spending decisions are prudent.
That was the case with three items on last night’s agenda, as council discussed public works infrastructure, equipment, and a large capital project.
The Public Works committee brought a recommendation to council to purchase another truck with the outlay of $65,000 for a new one-tonne truck framed as extending the life of the town’s larger dump truck.
Presently the big truck is used for general hauling and as a salt spreader during the winter months. If the roads need to be salted, then the truck is not available for work on water breaks and other public needs.
It also ties up the town workers who have to remove the spreader gear, clean out the box, and do it again when putting the truck into regular duty.
The corrosive nature of salt also takes a toll on the larger truck, which is far more costly to replace — in the range of $200 thousand. Councillor Brenton Colborne addressed the viewers of the Council meeting directly, noting that this is not indiscriminate spending, but necessary in the long-term.
The Town Hall building, which Council had considered abandoning for new digs in the new Oxford Community Centre (funding still pending), is getting a new roof.
Earlier this year, town officials reversed their rumoured position and committed to maintaining their existing building, one of the oldest stone structures — the former Bank of Nova Scotia, built in 1908.
The flat roof will be covered with a pitched (peaked) roof, to stop a leaking ceiling and provide a secure canopy under which future work on the building can be completed over time.
Council approved the roofing contract to Alex Crowley, at a cost of $41,500 +tax. A line item in the Spring 2023 budget set aside some $60,000 for that job, with the contractor’s quote coming in at significantly less. Work is expected to begin shortly.
Another non-budgeted expenditure is $34,800 for a study of the water system on the south side of Oxford, prompted by the development of nine new houses between Pugwash Road and Horton Street.
When attempting to tie the new homes into the water line on Horton Street, little to no pressure was available from the line, a situation the public works crew is attempting to rectify.
Dillon Consulting, an engineering firm the town frequently calls upon for design work on infrastructure projects, was called in to assist. Dillon recommended that no further development be approved in that part of town until a “WaterCAD” study could be done, consisting of a site survey of the town’s water storage tanks on Pugwash Road, as well as meter and hydrant tests, to understand what upgrades may be required.
Councillor Colborne asked if the study was a requirement for cost-sharing agreements with the province in future water infrastructure projects. CAO Cloney said it isn’t a requirement that Oxford undertake the study, but by not undertaking the engineering study, it would affect future approval of projects.
The long-awaited water main replacement project on Foundry Street is moving forward slowly, as the process of securing funding jumps through another hoop.
Earlier this year, Oxford received a commitment of “50-cent dollars” — a cost-sharing arrangement with the provincial government — to undertake the engineering design phase of the project, which is underway. That study suggests the total cost of the project will come in at approximately $2.1-million.
While the study is nearly complete, Oxford has a deadline to meet this month in applying under the new Municipal Capital Growth Program for matching funds. Considerable discussion took place among councillors, all to assure taxpayers that the town was not committing to spending that money if the final tab should be higher than estimated. The $2.1-million dollar estimate appeared to take some members of council by surprise.
Councillor Paul Jones said that the town will have to recognize this is “the new normal,” and that council will need to ensure reserves are in place to undertake infrastructure projects in the future.
Add your comments below.