MORRISBURG – Dutch Meadows’ developers and South Dundas council recently met and hashed out a new proposal outlining the municipal commitment to the 54-acre residential development which includes three condos, 46 semi-detached and 82 single homes.
“Thorough discussions with council and the developers has brought forth a new proposal which is fiscally responsible, while maintaining the commitment made by the previous council toward the project,” said South Dundas chief administrative officer Shannon Geraghty.
He reported that the developers with whom council met in closed session April 4th agree in principle with the option approved by council April 16th.
In this agreement South Dundas commits to the costs associated with the Dutch Meadows subdivision in providing the pumping station, extending the water infrastructure along County Road 2 to the property line, and extending the force-main from Merkley Street to the northeast corner of the subdivision.
Based on a Class D estimate, the cost is anticipated to be about $858,000.
Within this approval process South Dundas approved EVB Engineering for the project initiation and preliminary design, detailed design and tendering, and construction administration and inspection in the amount of $84,746 for the Dutch Meadows subdivision on behalf of the municipality.
Geraghty said this agreement allows greater control by the municipality to ensure the infrastructure is completed in accordance with the municipality’s specifications and for further growth to the west along County Road 2.
These new units will all be subject to the new water and sewer connection fees determined during last week’s water and sewer budget deliberations.
When council approved the new agreement they also rescinded the July 25, 2018 agreement approved by the previous council.
“I’m thrilled with what we were able to achieve through our discussions with Swank,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Kirsten Gardner. “I definitely want growth in South Dundas but I did not like the past way that we were going to do this. This way growth pays for growth. I think that having the municipality own the pumping station and that type of thing is the proper way to do it.”
“I like the way we’ve got this set up now,” said South Dundas councillor Donald Lewis. “We had a good meeting with Swank Construction where we got some things ironed out. I do believe that us taking on the pumping station is smart. I’m happy we’re moving on, and of course South Dundas does need growth.”
“I was part of the last council when we came up with the original agreement,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan. “This is a little bit different. In the long run I think it will serve us just as well, or better than the old agreement. All in all it’s a win-win.”
“This discussion we had with Swanks was very good,” said South Dundas councillor Lloyd Wells. “I like growth paying for growth. We’re bringing services to the Dutch Meadows subdivision. I’m happy with the outcome.”
“The meeting we had with Swank Construction was very fruitful,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. “We think that connection charges per unit is the best way of recovering the costs over time.”
“That will be our indirect contribution to the project,” added Byvelds. “We do want growth. We want to work with Swanks in getting that growth here so it certainly makes sense to do what we’re doing.”
With the agreement from South Dundas, Ron Swank of Swank Construction is hopeful that the development and subdivision agreements will be completed shortly.
“We are hoping to break ground later this year providing all the necessary approvals are complete,” he said.
