Wilmot hosts open house on Petersburg water system project

Wilmot Coun. Kris Wilkinson speaks to attendees at the recent open house/public information centre meeting for residents affected by the Petersburg Water System project at the St. Agatha Community Centre last week. Amanda Nelson photo

By Amanda Nelson

The Township of Wilmot held an open house/public information centre meeting for residents affected by the Petersburg Water System project at the St. Agatha Community Centre last week.

As part of transitioning the former Knipfel private drinking water system to the Petersburg Distribution Water System, the Township of Wilmot is preparing to replace the existing watermain and water services on Deerfield Avenue, Alice Crescent, Redford Drive and Notre Dame Drive from Snyder’s Road to the railway tracks, and Snyder’s Road East from Notre Dame Drive to 1745 Snyder’s Road East, to meet current standards.

The goal of the presentation was to answer questions and receive feedback and input from residents regarding the proposed roadway improvements.

Kris Wilkinson, Ward 2 councillor, presented design options for the roadway rehabilitation, including a semi-urban cross-section with no curbs and a wider asphalt surface. He emphasized the importance of providing feedback to council.

“We’re making decisions based on the feedback we get,” he said. “It could go any number of ways, but I know my peers on council, and if they look at the feedback and see what people want, they’re going to do their best to make it happen.”

Ken VanderWal, director of infrastructure services for the Township of Wilmot, touched on the same, detailing the urban cross-section proposal for road reconstruction, which includes 3.5-metre lanes, curb and gutter, storm sewer and a sidewalk on one side, mandated by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

“What we have presented, and what we are recommending, is an urban cross-section,” he said. “This urban cross-section would provide three-and-a-half-metre lanes, curb and gutter, as well as the storm sewer and sidewalk on one side of the road.”

VanderWal said the design is being done in-house rather than by external consultants to save money, and the township is actively reviewing past tender costs and focusing on an efficient design to help keep project costs down.

“The overall cost of the project is estimated right now at $4.8 million, which would be over two years. Of this, 48.6 per cent, or $2.35 million, is for the water system. The remainder, 51.4 per cent, is for road reconstruction, storm sewers, curbs and gutters.”

Construction will be phased over two years, beginning in the summer of 2026, and will consist of replacing the existing private water main with a new municipal water system, installing new water services to the property line, as well as road rehabilitation, drainage and active transportation.

Participants are asked to complete the resident/owner questionnaire to assist the team in understanding concerns and issues and to provide comments or questions for the project by March 6.

Feedback received from the questionnaire will be reported to council on March 23.