Huntsville capital projects $1.84 million lower than expected for 2024
Huntsville General Committee were advised that Huntsville capital projects will be $1.84 million lower than expected for 2024, in the September 25, 2024, meeting.
According to a report by Deputy Treasurer, Suzanne Diller, staff expect the capital projects “will be lower than anticipated due to several projects being expected to come in under budget or deferred to a future year.”
It adds, “There are projects that are higher than the budgeted amount however are considered a variance as they are less than the threshold for a deviation of $25,000.” It added that the variances will be reported to Council in November.
Departments under budget include Roads, by $1,308,871, Parks and Cemeteries by $389,716, Fleet and Facilities, by $183,000, Fire and Emergency Services, by $121,000, and Recreation, Culture, and Heritage, by $176,270.
Departments over budget include Facilities, Sales, and Customer Service, by $232,966, Economic Development, and Events, by $6,000, Information Technology, by $99,150.
The Library maintained the allocated budget, at $147,212.
Diller outlined some of the projects, including new requests to be added to the 2024 Capital budget, such as new Extraction Equipment for Port Sydney, “So, Station 5 now has their own equipment which is a huge benefit to the public.”
She added, “Prior to this, Station 5 would have to wait for the equipment to come from Station 1. So, it’s definitely and improvement.”
Station 5 will also receive a new Tanker, which Diller indicates will increase water capacity and operation efficiency during structure fires.
Diller continued that a new Air Filling Station was planned for Huntsville Fire Station 1 to replace the old one, which will allow for faster fill ups and more storage.
A new Dodge RAM 550 was planned for the Town’s Operations Department for Public Works staff for moving equipment, along with a new Mobile Housing Board “to alert the public to construction projects, fire safety, road closures, and general messages,” said Diller.
She advised that other projects included road work at various locations, new lighting at McCulley-Robertson Diamond F, audio equipment for Algonquin theatre, a ceiling and track lighting replacement at Muskoka Heritage Place, and a new pool lift for greater accessibility at the Summit Centre.
Mayor, Nancy Alcock, expressed appreciation for the completed projects. She said, “It’s phenomenal. It’s a huge list.”
Deputy Mayor, Dan Armour expressed concern about the cost of the new welcome sign. He said, “It was $10,000. Now it’s increased to $16,000.”
Diller advised, “$10,000 was a placeholder because we didn’t know what the sign cost would be.” She said the Economic Department is currently considering quotes “to see what the sign could look like and sending it to the BIA with the hopes that it’s done this fall.”
Councillor, Cory Clarke, expressed appreciation for the progress with the projects. He said, “It’s so good to see a lot of the stuff that’s happening in all the different departments in Huntsville.”
