THUNDER BAY -- Council is waiting to hear back from residents before considering some local improvement projects in this year's budget.
A pair of projects, which are raised by petition and are paid partly by the residents that request them, on Roland Street and Junot Avenue were passed along to the budget process but councillors raised concerns on others, deferring a decision on Woodcrest Road, Crawford Avenue and Georgina Avenue. The gallery at city hall Monday night was filled with people concerned about the projects.
On Woodcrest, Coun. Trevor Giertuga said the $230 per metre of frontage charge for the special project meant that some residents would have to pay more than $10,000 over the 15 years allowed in some cases. And the work was based on a petition signed more than 20 years ago. The area has seen more development and more people who might not want all of the work, which includes paving, sidewalks, gutters and curbs.
A local improvement can be considered if 50 per cent of the residents in an area representing at least 60 per cent of the tax assessment agree. Costs and repayments vary depending on the scope of the work involved.
"There are so many questions that need to be answered," Giertuga said.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson said she's been hearing concerns from residents around proposed projects for Georgina and Crawford as well.
Those projects were deferred until next month.
