The Town of Perth has the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $200,000 for an infrastructure project from the federal and provincial governments.

   Described at last Tuesday’s committee-of-the-whole meeting as “Intake One,” the grant from the Building Canada Fund provides funding to communities with a population of less than 100,000 for infrastructure projects. There are 17 categories for such projects, and applications must be submitted electronically by Nov. 21.

   A report presented by chief administrative officer Tim Simpson recommended choosing either Last Duel Park (which qualifies under the cultural infrastructure component of the program) or Conlon Farm (which qualifies under the sport infrastructure component), indicating that either one represents a good fit for the municipality for Intake One, are due for upgrading, which has been delayed due to lack of funds.

   One condition of any such grant is that the Town of Perth must provide the equivalent of one-third of the total grant amount.

   The cost to enhance Conlon Farm is estimated at about $160,000, and would include lighting the Community Diamond, a new play structure, a new steel roof on the chalet, and resurfacing the basketball courts. One advantage to this project is an existing capital budget, meaning that the required one-third funding would not be new.

   Last Duel Park has the advantage of meeting the provincial priority of being “construction ready” (no approvals or documentation pending), and a “Highest and Best Use” study was completed in 2005/06, which recommended about $200,000 in capital upgrades to the park. Due to lack of funds, few, if any, of the planned upgrades have been undertaken.

   Owing to a number of factors, including the short lead time and eligibility criteria, a number of other ideas were considered and rejected, such as the replacement of the pool liner (construction will have been completed prior to receiving funding approval). Expansions to the library and museum were also considered, but rejected because the information required to justify the choice could not be assembled in time.

   A second, and possibly a third, intake is anticipated, and these projects can be considered at a later date.

   After a lengthy discussion, committee members agreed to recommend to full council the Last Duel Park development plan for its approval.

   “Basically, as far as the two projects go, they’re both required in our town,” said Coun. Bill White. “Last Duel Park on a long term certainly needs the support, and Conlon Farm has been for a number of years neglected and dollars not put into that facility. So it doesn’t matter which one we took. I personally favoured the Conlon Farm project; however, I had no problem supporting the Last Duel Park.

   “Hopefully, council will be able to find the funds to work at Conlon Farm over the next couple of years in our term of council.”

   Coun. Judy Brown agreed. “Yes, I support the Last Duel project as opposed to the Conlon Farm project, one reason being that Last Duel is one of the gateways to Perth and, with the 175th anniversary of the Tay Canal (next year), I think it’s really appropriate that this facility be upgraded.

   “In addition,” she continued, “for the Conlon Farm upgrades, we are in the middle of a recreation feasibility study with the surrounding townships, and it would perhaps be better to wait until that’s completed.”

   Simpson confirmed that, assuming the entire amount of $200,000 is approved by BCF for enhancements to Last Duel Park, the town would receive $133,000 or $134,000, and would have to make up the balance of about $66,000.

   “My understanding,” he said, “is that if our application for funding is successful, then we’ll be notified by March 12, 2009, and at that time, decisions can be made whether to move ahead with the project, and over how many years we’re going to fund the project, how we’re going to phase the project so we can afford it.”