Belleville city hall (File photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville is partnering with a local developer for the construction of a $1.6 million watermain extension on Sidney Street.
The extension would run from Maitland Drive northerly, and easterly to Hampton Road Drive.
Developers of the Settlers Ridge subdivision plan to complete the installation for the city, with the city monitoring the work and reimbursing the cost when the work is complete.
In a report to city council Monday night, Director of Engineering Rod Bovay pointed out the watermain was approved in the 2018 capital budget but the location and sizing had not been determined, therefore no money had been allocated.
Councillor Jack Miller called it “a win-win situation” with the city and the developer working together.
Mayor Taso Christopher pointed out it is an opportunity to partner with private business. Christopher said private business can move faster than municipalities can. He called it an example of “thinking outside the box.”
City council approved the plan, and the funding, which allows the Settlers Ridge subdivision Phase Four to proceed in 2018 versus 2019 or later.
Special tax to promote tourism
Belleville is looking at implementing a special tax to support the promotion of local tourism.
For the past five years, the Quinte Accommodations and Attractions Association, a not-for-profit corporation, has been collecting a voluntary 2% Destination Marketing Fee from hotel guests’ room cost.
This has provided about $400,000 to promote the Bay of Quinte region as a tourism destination, not marketing any specific hotel.
Monday night, city council decided to oversee a consultation process, with hotels, B&Bs, Air BnB, and Vacation Rental by Owner, for a formal Belleville transient accommodation tax, to be implemented as early as January first, 2019.
If implemented, the 2% voluntary room revenue could be converted to a 4% “involuntary transient tax.”
