The Town of Osoyoos will be submitting applications under the new Federal Gas Tax Fund to help pay a significant portion of the two largest infrastructure projects scheduled for completion in the town in 2015.
Under the gas tax fund’s strategic priorities fund, municipalities are eligible to apply for funding for two major capital projects each year. Projects are eligible for 100 per cent funding of approved capital projects, with the application deadline set for April 15.
Town council unanimously gave approval for town chief administrative officer Barry Romanko to apply for more than $3 million in gas tax funding at its regular meeting of council on Monday.
The projects that have been approved by council include upgrading of the town’s main sewer lift station and completion of Phase 1 of the system 8 domestic water twinning project.
The sewer lift station project was also submitted to the Building Canada – Small Communities Fund for possible grant assistance.
Resolutions passed by council on Monday directs administration to make an application to the Federal Gas Tax Fund prior to April 15 to enable the sewer main lift upgrading project to proceed. The grant amount being requested will be $2.293 million and that the remaining $1.146 million for the project be allocated from the town’s sewer operating and reserve funds. The total project cost is estimated at $3.44 million
Council also passed a motion that directs administration to make a similar application to the Federal Gas Tax Fund to enable the Irrigation District domestic twinning project to proceed. The grant amount requested for this project will be $2.606 million and that $1.16 million be allocated from water operating and reserve funds. The project cost is estimated to be $3.723 million.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
