a) Roads Recap/Overview

Roads, Stormwater, Drainage & Cemeteries: Operating Overview

2020 Review and 2021 Outlook

Roads:

The Roads program in 2020 saw normal operating conditions. Additional funds for gravel road building have seen significant improvement in gravel road conditions. A widening of the platform of a section of Line 89 was constructed by North Perth crews and moves toward a standard of wider rural road where feasible. Winter conditions and services saw a typical year with greater treatment and less plowing/removal of snow as events were numerous with less accumulated snow.

2021 will see minor increases in operational costs in areas of growth such as sidewalk maintenance, mainly related to additional depreciation costs as well as in line painting and debris collection. Line painting is to be contracted as the County will no longer perform this service. Debris collection instances are increasing nominally and are represented in the proposed budget.

Stormwater:

Regular system maintenance of storm pipe, catchbasins and overland flow routes were conducted throughout the year and an inventory of structural infrastructure was also completed in 2020.

The 2021 program will move forward with similar costs as previous with more maintenance activities anticipated at roadway storm culvert crossings.

Equipment:

In general equipment, operations and repair costs remain constant. The purchases of new equipment continue to reduce longer life cycles, lowering repair costs. The type and number of winter control units will be under review related to the modernization work that was conducted in 2020. Updates of unit charge out rates are anticipated as part of the Asset Management Plan.

Drainage:

Drainage maintenance and repair activities continue year-round. Additional projects including plantings in conjunction with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority were conducted in 2020. The Superintendent is shared with Perth South under agreement, with nominal changes in the 2021 budget reflecting salary and benefit changes. Other accounts have been maintained with little change.

Cemeteries:

Cemetery accounts remain constant. A rate/revenue review was initiated in 2020 seeing an average increase of 10% in fees. Fees will be reviewed by the Cemetery Board in the first quarter of 2021 and implemented following Council review. The new operator shared with Public Works has proven to be an asset in both departments. Updates to related benefits and salaries are shown and represent the bulk of the increase in the accounts.

Respectfully submitted,

Lyndon Kowch Manager of Operations