Hastings County Council pressing senior governments for $$$

Hastings County Council is joining other municipal organizations in again calling on both the federal and provincial governments to fulfill their responsibilities and provide more money to pay for expensive infrastructure projects.

Councillors say property taxes alone can’t pay for what’s needed and it’s the small rural communities that get hit the hardest.

For his part, County Warden Bob Mullin wished communities the best of luck when applying for provincial infrastructure dollars.

“Disappointment for me is that every time they put out specialized funding, whether it be wastewater or whatever, there’s a limited number of contractors that can do that work and it’s a fact that every municipality that gets approved is going to be looking at the same 10 contractors … very foolish way to run a business.”

Mayor of Tweed Don DeGenova said two bridges in Tweed need serious work along with water/sewer projects and the community just can’t afford it.

A resolution demanding a better infrastructure deal for municipalities from the federal and provincial governments is being signed off on by Hastings County, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Meanwhile, count one more local political body as wanting the provincial government to add more funding for healthcare.

Thursday, Hastings County Council passed a resolution demanding the province pay to make sure every Ontarian has access to primary health care.

The mayor of Tweed Don DeGenova supports the municipal physician recruitment programs that have become popular recently but with a caveat.

“I’m of the opinion that what we do is good because it’s bringing in doctors but it’s a health care expense and we should be billing the government back for the incentives that we are putting out there to address health care in our rural communities.”

Despite recruitment efforts this region and many others continue to suffer from a shortage of family physicians.