Smiths Falls Councillor Peter McKenna said he was giddy after learning the town is receiving $13.3 million from the province to support their trunk watermain upgrades.
The project is costed out at $15 million over three years.
He sees the grant as a big cost savings for years ahead.
The investment comes through Ontario’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Health and Safety Water Stream and will also support sewer separation work.
Staff originally recommended an outright replacement for $1.8 million, but the discovery of rocks along the route and the near century old infrastructure led to a full reconstruction, adding to the cost.
McKenna says other factors were also in play.
McKenna said this was the third time they applied for the funding stream, and credited staff for their excellent application and Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan for lobbying the province.
Story by Grant Deme
