By Cecilia Nasmith

At county council's June meeting, Northumberland County Director of Public Works Denise Marshall put a dollars-and-cents face on the challenges the county faces in the coming years in terms of asset management.

Marshall's presentation covered the county's core assets – 32 km. of paved urban roads, 371 km. of paved rural roads, 95 km. of surface-treated roads, 45 bridges, 68 culverts greater than three metres, 20 retaining walls, 1,184 storm-sewer structures and 32.5 km. of pipe.

Pressures to come over the next 20 years include growth and climate-change impacts, and the analysis presented of cost and anticipated available funding to maintain and renew current assets indicates a $9.2-million shortfall.

The revised strategic Asset Management Plan council voted support for will help the county prepare for current and future challenges.

Required by the province, this plan will guide the county in effectively managing its assets in a way that balances services levels and risks in support of a thriving and sustainable community.

In the press release issued after the vote, Warden Bob Crate called the document “a road map for us to monitor the health of our considerable infrastructure assets, identify key funding gaps, and put plans in place to deliver a cost-effective, sustainable approach to infrastructure and asset management.”

Marshall used the term “evergreen” to describe the plan, saying it will be continuously updated to position the community to get the best value and services from its assets, and meet future government funding opportunities to enhance community infrastructure.

County councillors congratulated Marshall, GIS Asset Management Specialist Cora Bevan and Manager of Accounting Services Matthew Nitsch on the thorough analysis which – as Councillor Bob Sanderson put it – not only meets provincial requirements, but exceeds expectations to some degree.

“I guess all our municipalities have dome the same, submitting asset-management plans. It's a legislative requirement, and it's extensive,” Sanderson said.

“If you look at the overall picture, our assets are in pretty good shape. Now we move on to some decision making and some financial requirements moving forward.”

Councillor Bill Cane called on council to lobby the provincial government for more support, but Sanderson reminded him of the old saying – there is only one taxpayer.

Sanderson also called for some kind of public-education effort to familiarize taxpayers with the services they are getting for the taxes they pay.

“All I'm getting is, 'How come we are paying for our garbage pick-up?'” he said.