Town gets update on Navy Yard Park extension, applies for grant

By Ron Giofu

A lengthy motion was passed by Amherstburg town council which updated council members on the Navy Yard Park extension and also sought funding for it.

Council approved a sole source to an upset limit of $100,000 including a $25,000 contingency to hire Landmark Engineering for the preparation of the construction tender package and to apply for all necessary permits and approvals to carry out the shoreline work and for CAO Valerie Critchley and clerk Kevin Fox to “negotiate, sign and execute an agreement with Landmark Engineers Inc. or any such agreement, declarations or approvals required for the implementation of the shoreline project, satisfactory in financial content to the Chief Financial Officer, and in technical content to the Director of Parks, Facilities, Recreation and Culture.”

Town council also authorized administration to apply for to the 2023 Infrastructure Canada Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). Council also designated over $3 million in funding identified in 2025 as part of the recommended five-year capital budget as “a placeholder for the town’s matching portion of the grant submission.”

According to the report from director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon, should matching funding be required in 2024, administration would be directed by council to use $581,400 from the parks development charges, $1,518,600 from the general lifecycle reserve, $310,000 from the parks reserve and $650,000 from the parkland dedication reserve.

The town needs approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the

Department of Fisheries and Oceans and ERCA.

“Landmark Engineers Inc. are the engineers of record for the Municipal Class EA for 290, 296 and 306 Dalhousie St. carried out in 2019 and have the most recent background knowledge and expertise required for the project after having just completed similar scope of work for AMICO on lands directly abutting Town lands to the south,” Baillargeon stated in her report. “The design and engineering for the shoreline on Town property requires a similar treatment to work performed for AMICO where design details can be directly translated for the Town’s portion of shoreline stabilization.”

The DMAF grant would provide the Town opportunity not only to fund the shoreline improvements but also to finish park improvements such as, grading, walkways, railings paving and or implementing other park amenities as indicated in the Environmental Assessment (EA) in order to make it an accessible park space ready for public use when the required ministry approvals are granted, Baillargeon’s report added.

“In conclusion, the property identified as King’s Navy Yard Park Extension located at 290, 296 and 306 Dalhousie formerly know as Duffy’s is owned by the Town and requires a substantial amount of work before it can safely be opened up as a public park and green space. Administration recommends council precommit and approve funds necessary to execute additional required ministry approvals, shoreline and base infrastructure work in order to make the site safe so that when MECP approvals are granted we can safely open the site up for public use,” she continued. “The Infrastructure Canada Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund provides an opportunity to complete a substantial portion of the park improvements needed for

Kings Navy Yard Park Extension that would otherwise need to be absorbed through taxation. Administration recommends applying for DMAF funding in order to help offset cost required to execute this work.”

Councillor Don McArthur noted the recommendation for the sole source contract, noting municipalities should only enter into such agreements in specific circumstances. He said competitive bids generally let municipalities get the best price. He acknowledged Landmark was doing work next door at the Amico lands and wanted it confirmed that was a reason for the sole source contract.

Baillargeon said Landmark has an intimate knowledge of the site and also they did the EA and the issues surrounding the site. There are “synergies across the board” including work that was done at the Amico site.

Deputy CAO Melissa Osborne reiterated that if the DMAF grant application is successful and if the $3 million is needed sooner, it would be committed in 2024 instead of 2025. If the grant is not approved, the funding is still approved in principle for council’s consideration.

Councillor Peter Courtney wanted confirmation on what the amount of the grant could be, with Osborne stating the scope of the grant project is not yet known but the town could get upwards of $3 million if the town matches it.

Baillargeon said the premise is that the design approved in the EA is the one the town is proceeding with. Councillor Molly Allaire asked if all components in that design have to go forward, with Baillargeon stating “we can pick and choose elements of the design” they want to do but there is not enough funding to do everything in the design.

Police busy with RIDE programs on St. Patrick’s Day

The Windsor Police Service conducted several RIDE programs last Friday night as people were out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.

According to the Windsor Police Service’s Twitter site, there were several locations in Windsor and Amherstburg throughout the night.

In all, the police service’s traffic unit conducted 320 vehicle inspections, 81 enforcement actions, issued a trio of three-day licence suspensions, administered three roadside tests and made one arrest for failing to provide a breath sample.

In Amherstburg, officers established a RIDE program on Sandwich St. S. at Murray St.