KIRKLAND LAKE - Help could be coming down the pipeline for Kirkand Lake’s aging water distribution system.
Mayor Stacy Wight and CAO Alan Smith attended the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) conference in Toronto from April 21-24.
One of the delegations was to the Ministry of Infrastructure about the Housing-Enabling Water System Fund (HEWSF), which helps municipalities with water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure.
“If successful, the HEWSF has the potential to support two phases of sub development that will see the largest expansion in North Timiskaming in the last two decades,” Wight said.
"Thankfully we will not have long to wait on this decision as the province stated the announcements will happen later this spring. From reports, they want shovels in the ground by Sept. 27. This is not something that we will have to wait long term for. So everyone keep their fingers crossed.”
SEE: Prepare to make 'very difficult', unpopular decisions, warns Kirkland Lake mayor
At the conference, Wight also talked briefly with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“He came off the stage and Alan said to me, ‘Oh, look, there's the premier, you should go talk to him.’ I paused because we were well into the aisle and I had to trip over people to get to him, but I thought, you know what, Kirkland Lake deserve somebody that will take the opportunity when it presents itself,” Wight said.
“I was one of only 20 people, maybe less, that were able to have an audience and I made sure to let him know that I was from Kirkland Lake and we were going to delegate the next day and we need his support. And he was very, very welcoming. A couple of people later and he was whisked away. So here's to hoping that we left an impression.”
In January, town staff shared growing concerns about the town’s underground infrastructure, which is about 100 years old.
About 50 per cent of the treated water is being lost due to unknown breaks.
The cost to fix the water pressure and volume issues is expected to cost $10-15 million.
