St. Catharines city councillors supporting $20-million for Emergency Flood Alleviation program
A unanimous vote at St. Catharines city council to put $20-million into an emergency flood relief program.
$5-million is coming from wastewater reserves, the other $15-million from other debentured, or debt financed construction projects.
Councillor Caleb Ratzlaff looked to the province, noting the city normally pays up to $5,000 in flood prevention. "$5,000 isn't going to be enough for every resident, but I hope the province sees the need here in St. Catharines. We're looking at close to $40-million here, $20 here, but then $20-mill in capital projects."
Normally the city receives up to 50 funding requests yearly, lately it's over 3,500 due to flooding claims.
That includes the cost of sump pumps, backwater valves, weeping tiles and more, as discussed by councillors for roughly 2 hours last night.
Chief Administrative Officer David Oakes adds they talk to provincial officials daily. "We have formally submitted the process for the Municipal Disaster Recovery program, which is essentially an accounting exercise for us, the city, to showcase to the province the cost of capital works."
Mayor Mat Siscoe acknowledged getting city and regional infrastructure plans more aligned is needed.
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