Clearview council puts Creemore bridge back in county's court

It looks like Creemore may have lost its bridge after council essentially rejected an offer from the County of Simcoe to transfer ownership of the Collingwood Street Bridge.

Clearview council was willing to take over the bridge and restore it if there was enough money downloaded along with it.

Clearview was hoping to get $1.5 million from the county they gave the mayor and deputy mayor some room to negotiate but on Tuesday, county councillors agreed to a payment of $934,000. The figure reflects the amount equivalent to the tax levy portion of the construction and contract administration cost based on acceptance of the recommended tender – what the county tax levy impact for reconstruction would have been if the County had proceeded as planned.

Clearview Mayor Chris Vanderkruys called an emergency meeting Wednesday morning to give council members a chance to consider the deal.

There wasn’t enough support around the table to accept the deal with several council members speaking in opposition and others concerned about how the township would make up the funding shortfall.

“Where is this money going to come from?” asked Councillor Robert Walker. “It’s not in the best interest of Clearview. I don’t see us taking it on when we don’t know what the bottom line is. That’s the scary part for me.”

Similar comments were echoed by councillors Deborah Bronée, Shawn Davidson and Doug Measures.

They say council set a price, and it wasn’t met.

“I can’t support this motion,” said Bronée. “We gave clear direction… We don’t have the money for that. We have bigger fish to fry. We need to move ahead and let the county do their job.”

Councillors Thom Paterson and Kevin Elwood expressed concern that the county hadn’t done enough to explore the possible rehabilitation of the bridge.

Elwood said the option was overlooked.

He commended the mayor and deputy mayor for their efforts, adding the people of Clearview want to preserve their heritage, a factor in the economic development of the township, adding it is difficult to support it because of the cost.

Elwood was among those to support Paterson’s motion to reject the county proposal on procedural grounds, asking the county to present an estimate on the bridge restoration and delay the tender process.

The motion did pass in a 5-4 vote Wednesday morning but it may be too late.

The county offer came with an April 30 deadline.

If Clearview did not accept the deal by that date, the county would continue with the tender process in order to replace the bridge with a two-lane concrete structure this summer.

“I love this bridge,” said Councillor Connie Leishman, choking up a little. “I’d love to save it but I have a real problem with the money. I don’t want to do anything that would put this township in jeopardy.”

Burton, who has championed the save-the-bridge campaign, said this week has brought many disappointments.

“I do appreciate what councillors are willing to do but I think it’s a moot point,” said Burton.

“In my opinion, I feel we just lost the bridge,” he said after the meeting. He said he wouldn’t have supported a tax increase to make up any shortfall in funds needed to restore the bridge. He would have looked to grants and reserves and taken up offers of fundraising efforts from people in Creemore.

“It’s a disappointing day for Clearview,” said Burton.