It’s full steam ahead toward the construction of a mechanical sewage treatment plant for the Municipality of Brighton.
Tuesday, at a special meeting, Brighton council heard from consultants that design costs would increase by just over $400,000.
Despite the increase council will continue with the project.
Mayor of Brighton Brian Ostrander says the existing sewage treatment system has had ammonia nitrogen level problems for almost 20 years and past remedies have not solved the problem.
“As I said last night the experiment is over. It’s time for this big grown-up municipality to have a big grown-up sewage treatment plant.”
Brighton currently uses aerated lagoons and a man-made wetland to treat sewage.
The new plant will be located on the same property.
Request for proposals from builders should be issued in the fall for the $41 million project. It’s hoped the provincial government will approve a grant of $30 million soon, with the remainder of the cost coming from water sewer rates, development charges and a $6.5 million long-term loan.
Meanwhile, Brighton council is going to take more time before passing a new five-year development charges by-law.
A consultant’s report suggests development charges will more than double the current $14,335 on a single family house in the urban area to almost $36,000.
Development charges are levied against builders to pay for new and expanded municipal facilities and staff caused by the new development.
Mayor of Brighton Brian Ostrander believes growth should pay for growth but adds that charges might be adjusted for affordable housing.
“If that price tag is an affordable price then maybe we need to look hard at what those development fees look like versus what the development fees on a regular single family unit look like.”
Council has extended the timeline for a new development charges by-law by 90 days for further consultation with the development community and residents.
