Kootenay Columbia MP David Wilks visited Kimberley City Council this week to offer congratulations to the newly elected Mayor and Council and to talk infrastructure funding.
Kimberley, like most communities in Canada, faces replacement of aging infrastructure. In addition to many kilometers of water pipes needing replacement, the sewage treatment plant replacement looms on the horizon.
Wilks talked to Council about the Build Canada fund and the various ways Kimberley could access funding.
“As I understand it, the wish list for Kimberley includes the treatment plant which comes in at the modest price of $30 million,” Wilks said. “The funding is one-third, one-third, one-third so that’s $10 million each. You will have to borrow unless there is a significant reserve fund I am not aware of.”
Wilks asked Council to put together a list of projects that he could then take to the Federal Minister.
“I can present the list to the Minister and try to get you some money. Don’t give me 10 or 20 projects. Give me two or three. You realistically can’t do more than that in one year.”
Wilks said grant money is delivered once, but the project can be built over four or five years.
He also asked that City staff look carefully at the fine print in all grant applications to avoid problems.