The Town of Vermilion is looking to continue sewer upgrades in the community.
At the Jan. 7 council meeting, council gave first reading to a borrowing bylaw for Sanitary Sewer Trunk Main.
The project aims to upgrade existing sewer collection infrastructure. With the goal being to complete the remaining upgrade of the sanitary main from west of Hwy 41 to the new section just west of the wastewater treatment plant. This will complete all work related to upgrading the trunk main.
Financial implications of the project will see long-term debt increase of $2,250,000 if no alternate funding source is found. The town expects an interest rate close to 4.89 per cent and semi-annual payments of approximately $78,461 of combined interest and principal which may begin in 2025 or later dependent on cashflow considerations.
“This budget has already been approved, along with a funding source. As part of that, we need to get the bylaw approved for the borrowing, proceed with advertising, get that approved, put shovels in the ground,” said Brian Leibel, director of corporate services.
The town needs to have funding in place before the project can begin.
“This money is obviously needed to continue on with the sewer trunk line repair, which will hopefully in the next few years allow us to continue residential development in Vermilion and keep this town growing and moving forward in the right direction,” said Deputy Mayor Joshua Rayment.
An amendment was proposed to the motion regarding advertising.
“I know we have the Vermilion Standard in there, I guess I just haven’t followed it, is it just an online forum or are they even in existence? Should it say The Voice?” asked Coun. Kevin Martin.
Leibel clarified it could be a typo and a change would need to be made.
“Just to add to that to see if we can make a friendly amendment stating the Vermilion Voice instead of the Vermilion Standard,” continued Martin.
Advertising bylaws, as per the municipal government act, say council must give notice of certain bylaws, resolutions, and meetings by advertising in a newspaper or other publication circulating in the area.
The motion called for the proposed bylaw to be advertised in the Vermilion Standard, leading to the amendment. The Standard posted in January 2023 that it was moving to end its print edition and move entirely to digital where the stream of local content appears to have ceased.
The amendment passed and council gave the borrowing bylaw in the amount of $2,250,000 its first reading.
The full amended motion read, “That council for the Town of Vermilion give first reading to borrowing Bylaw 1-2025 in the amount of $2,250,000 to allow for debenture financing and advertise the proposed Bylaw in the Vermilion Voice as required by the Municipal Government Act. Section 251 (3).”
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