Cost of Prime Minister’s Path discussed at Wilmot council meeting

Project in limbo as private donors could be courted

By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Members of Wilmot Township council received a staff report at Monday night’s council meeting highlighting an estimated cost of $78,000 to install nine statues on township grounds in Baden.

The figure includes six concrete pads worth about $10,000 each and a contingency fund of $18,000 to cover any repairs. Before discussing the report, council heard from Karen Dane, a township resident who expressed dismay over the possibility of more taxpayer dollars being spent on the Prime Ministers Path (PMP).

“I find it concerning that this council is currently discussing additional PMP taxpayer costs. From what I know, this is going against what the majority of Wilmot Township residents want. … If council decides to fund putting up any of the existing nine statues, they will be deviating even more from the LURA report.”

LURA Consulting was brought on to lead the engagement process and support the township in forming a working group and community engagement plan. Dane was critical of the cost, noting the process went over the initial budget of $60,000.

“Please let Wilmot Township know if $102,367 was the final total for the LURA consultants, or is it more? The estimated cost of $78,000 could be substantially higher with the number of unknowns involved and possible items that have not been concluded.”    

Mayor Natasha Salonen made it clear no decision has been made on spending additional tax dollars, noting the report was tabled for information purposes only.

Some councillors spoke on the report, including Coun. Lillianne Dunstall, who said she understands the concern from the tax base but added the project needs to proceed.

“I also understand we have contributed $220,000, I think, to this project and to walk away from it doesn’t make sense.”

She also asked if staff could put something out to the public asking for donations to help cover the cost of installing the statues.

“I know I have got some people actually asking if there was some place they could contribute. This was something they were very passionate about, and they want to see them up. I think one person has already sent in a cheque (for $500) to see if we could raise some money to help.”

Coun. Kris Wilkinson explained he likes the way the conversation on the project was going and added it is now up to residents to chip in if they want it to proceed.

“Let this be a call to the community that if you have a vested interest in this or want to find a way to make it happen, it sounds like we are willing to listen and want to listen. I guess that would be a call out, and we revisit this on a different date, is what I am understanding.”

Coun. Harvir Sidhu made it quite clear he does not want to see another penny of public money going to this project.

“I will continue to say I don’t think the township’s funds should be spent on a one-time capital cost, conservatively saying $78,000, but we all know this is a rough estimate. Prices typically don’t go down, they only go up.”

Coun. Stewart Cressman took a slightly different approach, saying Wilmot should foot the bill to reinstall the statues that were removed at the height of the project’s controversy.

“To a degree, the township bears responsibility for those that were taken down and had been paid for by volunteers to erect originally. I see no responsibility on behalf of the township for the statues that were never erected, and I would see that properly borne by donors.”

The township will keep ownership of all statues and move ahead with reinstallation at the current site, including the public unveiling of the four additional statues currently in storage. Relocation of the statues to another site or municipality will not be considered.

“The township will consider the logistical and financial burden of the reinstallation as a one-time expense, to be covered from existing capital or operational resources pending the return of a staff report or quote of such work,” said the report.

It also stated no additional municipal tax dollars should be allocated to the project and any ongoing township financial involvement should be limited to routine park maintenance. The statue of Sir John A. Macdonald will also likely be relocated to a less prominent location within the park that requires individuals to make a self-directed decision to visit. The final location will be determined by the volunteer committee in consultation with the broader community. That committee has yet to be selected.