CF_Chooses_38_again_for _Comrif

Jeff Green | Jun 30, 2005

Feature article June 30, 2005

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by Jeff Green

It was dvu all over again at Central Frontenac Council.

When it came time to decide which project to apply to the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Program (COMRIF) for 2/3 funding last December, the majority of Council supported seeking funding for multi-million dollar repairs to Road 38.

Opposition to the proposal came from Councillor Bill Guigue, who argues that a $70,000 repair that was done last year will make the road safe for another six or seven years, and Councillor Logan Murray, who argues that the townships economic prospects would be greatly enhanced by hard topping some other arterial roads within the township that are currently gravel roads.

When a decision about intake 2 came to Council this week, the same arguments were made. Logan Murray said that rather than trying to fund repairs to Road 38, Council should insist that the province take back ownership of the road which a township like Central Frontenac will never be able to maintain on our tax base.

Most of the rest of Council disagreed. If Road 38 was our number one priority six months ago, how could that change? asked Mayor Bill MacDonald.

We would look foolish if, after complaining about being bypassed over Road 38 in the last round, we suddenly sent in a different application, said Councillor Frances Smith.

In the end Council approved applying for funding repairs to Road 38, by a vote of 7-2, with Logan Murray and Bill Guigue being the opposing votes.