HEDDY SOROUR
From a show of support for Pride Month to decisions on sidewalk repairs, wastewater expansion and recycling collection, Perth council tackled a wide range of topics at its May 13 committee of the whole meeting.
Pride flag to fly for June
Council approved flying the Pride flag from the Community Flag Pole throughout June to mark Pride Month.
“I wholeheartedly support this motion. It demonstrates tangible support for our two-spirit and 2SLGBTQ+ community,” said Coun. Gary Waterfield. “We are stronger when we celebrate and respect diversity in our town.”
Sidewalk repair contract awarded
Perth has approved a three-year contract with CleanCrete Cutting for inspection and repairs of municipal sidewalks. This marks the fifth consecutive three-year contract for sidewalk maintenance, and the first with CleanCrete Cutting.
Two bids were received for the work. CleanCrete’s proposal included a lower repair service rate, allowing for an additional 48 hazard repairs over the three-year period within the town’s $20,000 annual budget, according to Grant Machan, director of environmental services.
“A trip hazard might be inches or a foot long, and we pay by the foot inch,” Machan told committee. Hazards are defined as holes at least three-quarters of an inch deep.
Wastewater system expansion moves ahead
To meet growing wastewater demands, the town is proceeding with the installation of a fifth Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) cell at the wastewater lagoon.
The project was awarded to Louis W. Bray Construction Limited at a cost of $3.6 million, plus HST. Bray also installed the existing four cells in 2017-18.
“They are efficient and familiar with the site, and they submitted a strong proposal,” Machan said. The company will take on all required engineering drawings and approvals and is expected to begin construction this fall, moving the timeline up from 2026.
The town secured $2.9 million in grant funding, or 72 per cent of the project cost. Additional funds will come from $940,000 saved during the Craig Street reconstruction project and from the town’s $8-million water and sewer reserve.
Town recycling program transitions June 1
Starting June 1, the province will take over residential recycling collection in Perth at no cost to the municipality. Circular Materials Ontario has contracted Miller Waste to provide the service, with no changes to the current collection schedule or accepted materials.
The program does not include commercial, industrial or institutional recycling. Town staff have proposed amending the existing contract with Glenview Iron and Metal (GIM) to provide non-residential recycling for the next 18 months, until the contract expires.
“My recommendation is we maintain the current service for the next 18 months to give the town time to evaluate future options,” said Machan.
GIM will continue waste collection and, with the reduced residential recycling workload, will take over weekly organic (Green Bin) collection. In exchange, GIM has asked for a commitment to renew its contract in 2027 for an additional five years.
“The last three five-year contracts have seen GIM as the low bidder, offering very good value,” said Machan. The committee agreed to the request.
Arthur Street paving project approved
Paving on Arthur Street, from Cockburn Street to the entrance of the fairgrounds, will finally be completed this year. The work will also include repaving the entrance to the fairgrounds, which has seen multiple repairs and patch jobs over the years.
“The pricing is favourable, so we’re recommending using savings from the Craig Street project to include paving from Cockburn and around the corner onto Arthur to complete it,” said Grant Machan, director of environmental services.
Arthur Street was reconstructed in 2012, but the final lift of asphalt originally scheduled for the following year was delayed for budget reasons. The project will be sole sourced to Campbell Trucking, which is already paving Cockburn Street. Committee unanimously approved the recommendation.
Council provides direction on Official Plan update
Perth council discussed two issues raised during the town’s ongoing Official Plan update process.
Lanark County recommended that the town reflect the county’s in-progress Growth Management Study in the document.
“I have concerns about enshrining a draft document into our local policy before the county has done so,” said Forbes Symon, planning consultant with JP2g. Committee members agreed, noting the current Official Plan is an update only, with a full overhaul scheduled within five years.
“I totally agree,” said Coun. Jim Boldt. “The province is throwing a lot of changes at municipalities right now. It might be better to wait until five years from now, when the tidal wave of changes has settled into a ripple.”
Separately, a developer raised concerns about how density targets are being applied to different phases of a development.
“Density targets should apply to the entire development, not individual phases. We need to clarify that in this update,” Symon said.
Committee supported the recommendation. Symon indicated the updates should allow him to finalize the document before council’s summer break.
