Essa goes ahead with new storage building
by Richard Blanchard

Essa council has approved the construction of a new salt and sand storage building at the township's roads garage on County Road 56.

The building will be built by Domm Construction of Ayton at a total cost of $733,289. Domm's bid, which was the lowest one received by the township, came in above the estimated cost which was set at $600,000 in this year's budget but council agreed to move ahead with the project. The building is larger than originally proposed in order to allow Simcoe county's salt and sand in the building.

Township CAO/Public Works manager Greg Murphy said that the province has been encouraging all municipalities to construct salt and sand storage buildings as a means of reducing salt run off from outdoor piles.

"It will eliminate that problem and allow us to store any surplus sand and salt over the summer months," he said.

The township has had discussions with Simcoe county about them contributing funds towards the building's construction which would allow them to store their roads department salt and sand in the building.

The township will also be using funding that it is receiving from the federal government under its gasoline tax rebate program towards the building's construction.