Morrisburg’s $1M concrete arena pad

In this Feb. 7, 2017 photo from South Dundas, the township received a $315,000 Ontario Trillium Grant to replace the ice surface at the arena. Council is expected to approve transfers from various reserve accounts to cover a budget overrun of nearly $310,000. (South Dundas via Newswatch Group)

MORRISBURG – Township councillors are expected to approve some money transfers tonight (Tuesday) from rainy day funds to cover the Morrisburg Arena project, which is nearly $310,000 over budget.

South Dundas received a $315,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant in January to replace the concrete slab at the 28 Ottawa Street arena.

But then a series of problems, including a tight timeline and the uncovering of structural problems, led to the municipality scrambling in order to save the government grant. The project had to be completed by March 31, 2018 while the arena had to be operating by September for the upcoming hockey season.

The actual bid to replace the slab, approved last month, came in way over budget – $795,000 was the lowest bid of two bidders. The township had budgeted $630,000. ($315,000 from OTF grant plus a township match).

A new financial spreadsheet before council tonight shows the final cost – the pad construction, design work, repairing the arena columns and mechanical work, will end up costing taxpayers $1,043,469.

After a municipal HST rebate, the Morrisburg project costs not covered are $309,677, according to the municipal spreadsheet.

Councillors are expected to cover it by approving a $12,500 transfer from the recreation programming reserve account, a $197,177 transfer from the general working reserve, plus another $100,000 from the sale of asset reserve fund.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the South Dundas Municipal Center.