WELLINGTON NORTH – The Arthur and Area Community Centre will be seeing some major upgrades this year.
At a Monday meeting, Wellington North council approved a $1 million tender to replace the ice-making piping within the floor of the arena.
Councillor Lisa Hern said this a good opportunity to do these renovations while the ice is out and COVID restrictions are in effect to prepare for the time when it can be fully used again.
Councillor Steve McCabe agreed and noted he was happy to see a local company awarded the contract for this project who is going above what the tender asked for.
“It is under budget and there are going to be some extras this contractor is going to throw in as well that were not part of the original design,” McCabe said, referring to the contractor replacing some dasher boards.
Matt Aston, director of operations, said Arthur Lacrosse will be playing in Mount Forest during construction and the organization is in full support of the upgrades.
He then said this could be done as early as the end of July but definitely by Sept. 1 to allow for the 2021/2022 hockey season to continue as scheduled.
Council unanimously approved awarding the contract.
Mount Forest Wellington Street townhouse development
Wellington North council also approved an agreement on a 24-unit housing development in north east Mount Forest.
The developer is proposing six single detached and 18 townhouses on both sides of Wellington Street East between Newfoundland Street and London Road.
A report to council says the project will include connection to existing services on the road and construction of a sidewalk.
This agenda item was not pulled out for further discussion by council and was approved unanimously.
Nuisance coyotes in the township
Councillor Steve McCabe presented a notice of motion brought forward at the previous meeting to see what the municipality can bring forward a report on a municipal program of hunting nuisance coyotes on private property.
He said he has received a number of emails and phone calls from residents concerned about coyotes coming right up to their outbuildings.
Councillor Sherry Burke asked if staff would look at other methods on top of simply hunting.
Clerk Karren Wallace said a report would likely give background on what other municipalities are doing around coyotes.
Councillor Lisa Hern said she’d like the report to include if there had been an increase in livestock claims as a result of coyotes and suggested connecting with the County of Dufferin who have a nuisance coyote bylaw.
Council approved directing staff to prepare a report on solutions to nuisance coyote issue.
