The Town of Collingwood is still on track for many of its capital and operating projects this year, according to staff.
Director of public works, engineering, and environmental services, Peggy Slama, told council the town’s 2020 budgeted projects have been prioritized with some of the critical projects already sent out for tender.
COVID-19 pandemic restrictions meant a pause on non-essential construction, but as of May 4, the province has lifted restrictions on municipal work.
“While COVID-related work has slowed municipal decisions, if all projects are able to proceed unfettered, no Collingwood projects are currently undeliverable due to COVID,” stated Slama’s report to the Strategic Initiatives Committee on May 6.
There could be other delays, such as waiting for funding for projects such as the Fisher Field clubhouse. Town staff applied for funding for the building through a federal grant program, but have not heard back on the application.
The critical projects, said Slama, are those necessary to protect health and safety of residents, protect a town asset or service, or repair or replace an asset that will fail in the next one to three years.
Among those critical projects is the Sunset Point breakwall repair, the Napier Street sanitary renewal, facility maintenance, and vehicle replacements.
According to Slama, the Napier Street project is still on schedule to be completed this year. Bidding on the project closed May 30 last year.
The work will include replacing sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain replacement, as well as road reconstruction of Napier Street between Hume Street and Erie Street.
There are also mid-priority or “important” projects such as corporate software purchases, the Huron/Niagara Crosswalk, and asset replacements.
Slama said the important projects are those that enable the core business of the municipality to proceed.
The “other” projects were the lowest priority identified. Slama called them “like to have” projects. Some of her examples included water meter replacements, further corporate software, and a Parks, Recreation, and Culture feasibility study.
“Now that all municipal projects are able to proceed, most will be put back on track by departments,” said Slama.
She said the town has increased the requirements it’s including in request for tenders, asking contractors for a COVID plan that enables workers to practice physical distancing, extending price guarantees, and increasing bond securities.
In response to a question from Coun. Deb Doherty, Slama said she could bring a list of the projects identified by staff as low priority to a council meeting in June.
