Breaking News: October 4th 2024

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Swift River land lease funds allocation was debated by the General / Finance Committee on September 11

 

 

During the construction of the Bala Generating Station, the Township received $192,400 from Swift River for the leasing of certain lands. Those funds are intended for the betterment of the Town of Bala. The funds are currently held in Reserve for Community Improvement Projects.

 

A staff report suggested four uses for the funds.

 

1. Use the funds to complete some or all of 5 public realm projects for Bala, the last three of which are dependent on grants from other levels of government:

              Viewing deck at Bala Falls

              Bala Falls Lighting

              Bala Boardwalk

              Bala Town Dock

              Bala Streetscapes

 

2. Additional Community enhancements / Public Art

3. Community grants in addition to the $25,000 the Township allocates yearly

4. Community Consultation

 

The Board of MRPOA tabled a letter indicating Community Consultation was the correct path and indicated our objection to Lighting the Bala Falls. We suggested some funds could be allocated to improving the Jaspen Park beach to reduce the Goose problem.

The letter is attached here.

 

The committee unanimously chose option 4. There was consensus that the proper time for consultation be taken to “get this right”

 

Township staff will be conducting in-person and online outreach programs later this fall.

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