Owen Sound city hall. (photo by Claire McCormack)
The City of Owen Sound is out with its 2022 draft capital budget and five-year capital spending plan.
More than 58 per cent of next year’s $15.1-million proposed capital program is allocated to road projects, with the biggest ticket item ($6.02-million) being the continued reconstruction of East Bayshore Road/Grey Road 15.
Other roads projects planned for next year are the $1.2-million second phase of the 16th Street East rehabilitation project that the city is seeking a provincial grant to finance a portion of, and $700,000 for general asphalt and concrete replacement.
The 2022 spending plan also includes $1.7-million for the second phase of the Downtown River Precinct Project, the revitalization of the 900 block of 1st Avenue East. According to a city budget document, this will include the rehabilitation of the road and drainage/stormwater of the 900 block of 1st Avenue East. Streetscaping areas alongside the road and the installation of new decorative lighting are also part of the project.
Some of the work proposed at Harrison Park next year are the replacement of the Weaver’s Creek boardwalk ($50,000), the installation of a new controlled access gate ($15,000) and roof replacements of the pool change house as well as some campground laundry and washroom facilities.
There’s also renovations planned at Greenwood Cemetery to the chapel ($425,000) and the mausoleum ($125,000).
More than $500,000 is allocated in the 2022 capital plan for upgrades to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, including front entrance accessibility improvements and outdoor sign replacement. The city has applied for a federal grant of over $390,000 to support the project, budget documents say.
Just over $3-million in property taxes will be required for the city’s proposed $15.1-million capital program for 2022. More than 46 per cent of the spending plan will be financed by grants and external funding ($6.9-million). It also calls for $2.1-million in debt spending, $1.9-million from water and wastewater rates and $1.04-million from reserves.
Meanwhile, the city’s updated five-year capital plan calls for a number of investments to improve parks and public recreational facilities in Owen Sound. According to a city capital plan document, more than $450,000 is allocated for a number of playground structure upgrades between 2024 and 2026. This includes playgrounds at Comm-R-Ette Park, Owen Heights and Bill Inglis Park in 2024, Maitland Park in 2025, and Kelso Beach Park and Parkview Park in 2026.
More than $1.1-million in spending is planned from 2022-2026 for improvements to outdoor sports facilities in the city. This includes renovations to the north, south and major baseball diamonds and dugouts at Duncan McLellan Park between 2024-26.
Tom Williams Park baseball diamond is scheduled for bleacher and scoreboard replacements next year, and washroom building replacement in 2023.
At the Kiwanis Soccer Complex, the field house roof is up for replacement next year while bleachers, wifi and drainage work is planned starting in 2023.
The projects included in the city’s five-year capital plan will be approved — and could be amended — by council through a regular capital review process.
Council will begin its 2022 budget deliberations at a special meeting on Friday. Next year’s draft operating budget will be presented to council on Dec. 2.
*Editor’s note: This story was updated from an earlier version to include additional information.