TBL to see a 1.5 per cent increase in municipal taxes
TBL’S Mayor Richard Burcombe, along with Director General Gilbert Arel and Treasurer Caroline Cusson rolled out the 2018 budget on Monday, January 15. In summary, property owners for homes evaluated with an average value of $300,000 can expect an annual increase of $30. This amount represents a 1.5 per cent increase over last year, or otherwise 1 cent on every $100.
The town aims to continue being guided by the five major development issues as outlined in the strategic plan. They include modernizing municipal infrastructure, strengthening economic and demographic development, enhancing the quality of life, protecting the environment and Brome Lake, and solidifying the town’s governance and institutional relations.
Key elements within these five pillars range from enhancing communication, public security, management of water flow, shoreline restoration and improvement, and continuation of ensuring compliance of septic system regulations.
The town plans to go forward with its plan to transform the public space in the centre of Knowlton by opening up the area through eventual demolition of the grey building that once was “Mill Pond Village” as well as the blue building on Lakeside that currently houses Brome Lake Books. “The development of the entire downtown area is beginning to take shape,” said Burcombe. “This new public space, combined with the move of the public market to the town centre will create a major pole of attraction.” The mayor assured that because of the scale of the project, there will be opportunity for citizen input through consultations on this matter. It is anticipated that the farmers market will remain in its current location until summer 2019.
Also on the docket for 2018 is the implementation of a business revival plan and creation of public events.
It is the town’s hope to purchase land in 2018 with building a new fire hall in mind because the existing one no longer
meets today’s standards. The mayor says that forward with an acquisition like this will allow them to be ready when a grant for construction for a new fire hall would be available.
Blackwood Dam is on everyone’s mind. In 2017 a committee comprised of local residents with expertise, including engineers and environmental specialists, was established to look at options for the rehabilitation of the dam. Updated studies in 2018 will allow the committee to present recommendations to the town council that, in turn, would see the design of the new dam become a reality in 2019.
That the town hall requires major repairs with an estimated $1.2 million needed, Burcombe says that, “This work will solve problems of infiltration, repatriate the land management team in the premises of the town hall and carry out maintenance work neglected for several years.”
Citizens can expect more work to be done on the walking trails when phase two gets underway with the gateway installation at Trestle Cove in 2019. According to Burcombe’s plans, specifications and a certificate of authorization will be completed this year.
Road repairs are targeted for Victoria Street where water and sewer infrastructure and the pavement and sidewalks will be redone. When work will be done on the paved areas of Mill Road and Fairmount Road, bicycle lanes will be added. As well, portions of Iron Hill Road, Stagecoach Road and St. Paul Street will be gravelled.
Continuation of the modernization of the aqua-ducts (water and sewage) on certain parts of Victoria Street and Knowlton Road is in the plan. The West Brome wastewater treatment system must be replaced in compliance to environmental standards, while work on sewer and water infrastructure at the West Brome mobile home park has been postponed until 2019. This is because the Ministry of the Environment requires a surface water impact test on groundwater.
The mayor and Arel say that they are still working with Bromont on a plan to share the police services. This would be advantageous for TBL, they say, because it would get the same service as from the Sureté du Québec without the higher price tag while Bromont would not have to bear the same cost alone. Burcombe says that an agreement like this would be a test run and serve as a model for other communities in Quebec.
More details will follow in the next edition of BCN.