If Elliot Lake city council approves, the city will enter into an agreement with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry for $1,545,000 in provincial government funding to pay for runway resurfacing at Elliot Lake Airport.
The agreement under the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) fund is for $1,399,790. That would leave the city to pick up the $145,209 shortfall from its facilities reserve.
In his report to Monday's Elliot Lake city council virtual meeting, Economic Development Manager Steve Antunes wrote, "In November of 2021, the Ontario government committed to provide funding to municipalities to support critical infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities. The funding allocated to Elliot Lake is $279,958.21 per year for 5 years, totalling $1,399,791."
The money may be spent anytime between 2021 and March 2025, or deferred to a later time.
Antunes stated the local project aligning best with the funding is the resurfacing of the Elliot Lake Airport runway.
The last airport runway resurfacing work was done in 1994. Since then, time and weather have had their effects on the landing surface, now littered with numerous potholes.
If council approves the work will have to take place in 2023. There may be temporary repairs this year as well.
Elliot Lake unsuccessfully applied for a Fednor grant to complete the same project in 2021.
Meantime, Elliot Lake CAO Daniel Gagnon is recommending that council cancel the North Shore Classic drag race at the airport for a third year.
The popular event was cancelled in July 2020 and 2021, mainly due to COVID-19 protocols.
He indicated this year's proposed dates are July 15-17, and saving the date now or cancelling will be important for race coordinator, promoters, the racing community, spectators and local businesses.
Gagnon wrote that, by this time in a typical year, city staff and volunteers would be lining up sponsorships.
He also pointed out that current city staff shortages would be an impediment should council decide the event could go ahead this July.
"There are two key vacancies in the Recreation and Culture and Economic Development Departments," added Gagnon.
"If the event is to be hosted in 2022 and beyond, staff feel it is important to work with the North Shore Cruisers and other stakeholders to revise the budget to limit the net cost to the taxpayer.
"Options include: direct staff to host the event for strategic/economic development purposes or at a minimum “save the date” now, and aggressively pursue options for hosting the event in 2022; Cancel the event now (or soon) – staff recommended; Defer decision for now – not recommended," Gagnon concluded.
Approximately $17,000 was budgeted for the net loss of the event in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The actual net loss in those years came in at about $43,000.
Monday' night's council meeting where these airport related issues will be looked at will be live-streamed on the city's website at 7 p.m.