Infrastructure top priority for mayors

Municipality of South Huron logo.

By John Miner

The mayors of Bluewater, South Huron and Lambton Shores admit roads, bridges, sewer and water systems might not seem exciting.

Still, that is going to be their top spending priority in the next three to five years, the mayors told the annual Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Breakfast on March 26.

“It is not sexy, but it is infrastructure that needs to be looked at all the time,” said South Huron Mayor George Finch.

“It is continually aging, just like all of us are, so let’s work on that.”

With grants from the province, South Huron completed reconstruction of Main Street from the Ausable River bridge to Walter Street in 2025, replacing water mains, sanitary sewers and storm sewers.

The next project in Exeter is reconstruction of Main Street from the Ausable River bridge to Victoria Street. Involving replacing the existing roadway, sewers and water mains, the project is scheduled to begin after Easter weekend and finish before the end of 2026.

Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp said a priority for his municipality will be completing the upgrade of sewage capacity in Bayfield. That project will allow for more growth.

Also important will be the continued maintenance of Bluewater’s paved and graveled roads.

That may be boring, Klopp said, but necessary.

Lambton Shores Mayor Doug Cook said a highlight in his municipality has been the reconstruction of the bridge in Grand Bend.

That project is scheduled to be completed in May and will add a dedicated right turn lane that should ease traffic congestion heading north.

The infrastructure project that Cook would like to see happen is a community centre for Grand Bend.

Council applied to the province for funding for the project expected to cost about $20 million, but was turned down. Cook said they have since rejigged the size of the project, reducing the cost by about $5 million.

“It’s not dead. We are definitely looking for another opportunity to get it,” he said.

Mayors Klopp and Finch were asked what their stance would be on helping fund a Grand Bend community centre.

“We have no stance and if somebody asks we will deal with it when it comes,” replied Klopp.

Finch said it is too soon to have that discussion.

South Huron residents would definitely benefit from a Grand Bend community centre the same way Grand Bend residents benefit from facilities in South Huron, he said.

“Let’s keep the discussion going,” said Finch, adding he is not saying yes or no.

Both Finch and Klopp praised Cook and Lambton Shores for the leadership in bringing bus service to the area through Huron Shores Area Transit.

Klopp said Bluewater council was looking at cutting expenses when the bus proposal came up. Despite the added costs, council voted unanimously to support the service.

“It is going to grow. It is going to get better.”

While there is a question if it will always pay for itself, Klopp said Bluewater has arenas, baseball diamonds and parks that don’t always pay for themselves but pay dividends by making the community better.

Finch said the Huron Shores Area Transit system has had a direct impact on businesses in South Huron. The availability of transportation for employees has allowed businesses to stay open longer and survive, he said.

The three mayors were asked how they will balance growth with preserving the character of their communities.

Cook said as a municipality Lambton Shores doesn’t want to tell people what they can do on their property as long as they are working within the building code.

“We want people to come and invest money here. If you are an investor, or a builder, or someone who wants to change what they see, if it works within our mandate, please come.”

Klopp said it is really up to the people what happens in the municipality.

“We are there for everybody and we try to keep options open.”

Finch said municipalities have to remember they are creatures of the province. The province sets the rules and the municipalities carry out the rules, he said.

“Some people may not agree with that,” he said. “The unfortunate reality is if we don’t follow the rules, the policy statements and whatever else, we get ourselves in a lot of trouble.”