Some federal funding is coming Arran-Elderslie’s way to help fix up sewers along the main street in Chesley. Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative MP Larry Miller came to the Municipality Thursday to deliver a cheque for 1.3 million dollars. The amount comes from the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and represents the federal share of one-third of the 4 million-dollar project. Arran-Elderslie Mayor Ron Oswald says with the federal government putting their share in they will wait for the province to put up their share of one-third of the cost. He says the Municipality will cover the other third of the project. Oswald says it was a rather nice surprise to be getting the infrastructure funding from the federal government. He says Council will be discussing what to do next at Monday’s meeting. But there maybe more to this funding announcement than just a goodwill gesture. Huron Bruce Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell caught ear about it and says this could be a political maneuver by the federal Tories. Mitchell was in Walkerton Friday to deliver a provincial infrastructure grant for road work there and says municipalities in her riding have not been able to acquire that kind of funding from the federal government. Oswald says if the province can’t put up the money then the Municipality may have to finance the remaining costs through a debenture. He says because they are a small municipality, it would be pretty hard to proceed with work without help from the two upper levels of government. The Chesley project will see new water and sewer lines along Bruce Road 10 and a new pumping station at Riverside Park. Work is expected to begin in 2009.
