Municipal Engineer Jonathan Gendron presented a report to council during its August 17 session about a possible source of funding aid to help with the costs of designing a Drinking Water Master Plan for the township.
“The Lefaivre drinking water system provides potable water to the villages of Lefaivre, Alfred, Plantagenet,” Gendron stated in his report, adding that the system also supplies water to St-Isidore in The Nation Municipality.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has a support grant fund to assist municipalities with their asset management planning. The provincial government requires all municipalities to create and maintain detailed asset management plans on their infrastructure to help with its own decisions on local government applications for infrastructure aid funds. Projects that are considered “shovel ready” may get priority consideration from the province.
Gendron recommended applying for an FCM municipal management grant to help cover 80 per cent of the cost for a Drinking Water Master Plan and also a State of Infrastructure review report for the township. He estimated about a year needed for the entire report process and will identify necessary upgrades for the Lefaivre water supply system that provides water to the four villages.
“An updated Master Plan will provide a clear vision of the current state of infrastructure,” Gendron stated, “and provide updated recommendations regarding system requirements to accommodate future growth in Alfred-Plantagenet.”
Council agreed with Gendron’s recommendation and directed him to apply for an FCM grant.
