If Champlain Township decided to replace every asset in buildings, parks, and vehicles it owns, it would cost $42,737,331.

That amount is from an Asset Management Plan the township is currently developing for its buildings, parks, and vehicle fleet. Director of Public Works Sébastien Lévesque presented information on the plan to council at the Thursday, June 13 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Lévesque’s report indicates the township should ideally be spending $3,962,637 on maintaining the assets, but is only spending $1,962,622, which leaves a gap of $2,000,015.

The township has a three-page list of 150 items designated as renewal projects. On a list of assets with “service deficiencies,” there are 12 items identified for replacement or significant modification to address problems associated with age, safety, space, and reliability. The municipal office building at Pleasant Corner Rd., which was used by the former West Hawkesbury Township municipality, has old electrical wiring and insufficient space for all municipal employees to work there. The municipal garage, located across the road from the office building, was also used by West Hawkesbury and is experiencing structural problems.

“We basically have a cement slab that is moving when vehicles enter,” Lévesque said.

The L’Orignal Fire Hall is a former garage, and both it and the public works facility are not post-disaster resilient.

Bleachers at Mill Street Park in Vankleek Hill and at L’Orignal Park have exceeded their lifespan and need to be replaced for safety.

A series of municipal vehicles, including two fire pumper trucks, have exceeded municipal lifespan policy

Municipalities are required by provincial regulation to have Asset Management Plans as a way of managing the cost of owning, operating, and maintaining assets to maintain an acceptable level of service for residents. Lévesque said the final step of developing the current plan by July 2025 will involve determining proposed levels of service for assets and planned funding to maintain the level of service those assets provide to residents.

“That has been started, but there’s still quite a bit of work to be done on it,” he said.

Mayor Normand Riopel asked why inflation was not factored into future costs for asset management.

“In effect, all of our analyses are in 2024 dollars as it is more easy to analyze,” responded Lévesque.

He also noted that some projects receive grant funding.

Councillor André Roy asked how the replacement values were determined for assets.

Lévesque said standards set by EVB Engineering, the firm the township is using as consultants for the Asset Management Plan, were the standards used, and 2024 dollars were also used.

Lévesque said any additional assets the township acquires will be based on growth only, but said the municipal office building currently needs expansion.

Riopel said he hopes for more assistance from the provincial and federal levels of government for grants to replace and repair assets.  

He said the Asset Management Plan report is good, but a lot of money is involved.