The RM of Council Cartier met last night in Elie, and followed it with a public hearing on the Elie Lagoon Riprap repair proposal.

Reeve Dale Fossay"The Elie lagoon's been needing repairs for several years," explains Reeve Dale Fossay. "It's been identified as an old lagoon structure with the east wall failing due to wind erosion. So, we applied to the province and the federal government for funding. And we were successful in obtaining 75% funding. That's good news for the municipality."

He says, based on first reading, and no opposition from local citizens, Council will move ahead with the tendering process within the next couple of weeks.

Fossay notes several good questions were presented to Council by the public, that focused on the repayment schedule and what happens if ratepayers pay their portion up front or over time, as well as who actually is paying for the repairs. Council outlined the cost will be divided between 409 properties, and their respective ratepayers. The full amount upfront is $919.12 per ratepayer, or it's debentured between the remaining properties at $88 a year for 15 years. Empty lots that might be purchased and developed later are included in that number. All loan funding is made through the government.

The overall cost is $1.5 million with $750,000 paid by the federal government, $375,000 paid by the province and $375,000 paid by the RM.