The Municipality of Brighton has applied to the province for funding for a new wastewater treatment plant.
At Monday’s meeting, council approved the hiring of a communications specialist to help with their application to the Ontario Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.
Mayor Brian Ostrander says the help is necessary to get them important conversations with political insiders at Queen’s Park.
“We just know as a small, rural municipality of 12,000 people, we just don’t have the clout that a larger centre has and we are in competition with some pretty big players for this funding.”
After many compliance issues involving high ammonia levels over the years, Brighton is replacing its current lagoon-based treatment facility with a new mechanical plant.
The larger plant will also meet the capacity requirements for almost 1,700 residential units that have been approved for future development.
The $25 million plant is currently in the design phase with work planned to start next year and take 24 to 30 months.
Ostrander says there is no timeline for an answer on their funding application.
