MAPLETON ‒ Mapleton could take another shot at privately financing the expansion of its water and wastewater systems.
According to a report coming to council on Tuesday, staff are recommending that the township proceed with a request for proposal (RFP) and revisit the possibility of a financial partnership with a private enterprise in an attempt to ensure its wastewater treatment facilities can effectively meet the demands of Mapleton's growing population.
The total cost for upgrading and renewing both the water and wastewater systems is approximately $23 million and would take over 10 years to complete using a traditional borrowing and staging approach.
"By forming a partnership, we can significantly reduce the timeline without causing an unmanageable increase in rates," said staff in the report. "This partnership is crucial to expedite the process and achieve our goals efficiently."
Council hit the breaks on their original RFP in 2020 due to council and CAO concerns that there's too much risk involved in having a private company run water and wastewater.
"As a municipality close to the GTA and Golden Horseshoe, we anticipate significant growth in Mapleton," said staff in the report. "Due to this demand in housing, it is imperative that we increase the wastewater treatment capacity in Drayton and Moorefield."
According to the report, by entering into a partnership with a private enterprise, the report suggests that the township can expedite the process of renewing the current water wastewater infrastructure and enable the "timely construction" of additional development. This includes schools, childcare centres, businesses, and residential development.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
