The City of Timmins Environmental Services department wishes to advise the Public of hydrant flushing/watermain cleaning activities in the following areas.
-
Area: City crews will be working in the following areas Timmins South and Schumacher.
-
Time of Disruption: Starting May 1, 2023 at 8:00am on going for the month of May.
Homeowners and businesses may experience short-term loss in water pressure or experience brown or rust-coloured water following the testing. It is recommended not to drink or wash laundry with the discoloured water. While it is not harmful to your health, it can stain laundry. Should this occur, it is advised to turn off your tap for 10-20 minutes in order to allow the crew to complete the test. Once the test is complete and the work crew has left the area, turn on the COLD water tap closest to the source (usually your laundry tub tap) and let it run for approximately 15-20 minutes or until the water colour has returned to normal.
City staff would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation during this necessary process, and advise that if there are any questions, concerns or requests for additional information, they may contact the Service Timmins at 705-264-1331. After-hours emergencies should be directed to 705-264-1201.
Guest
City Council has approved a second segment of Connecting Link construction this summer, which means the west end of Timmins will be getting a sidewalk along a busy stretch of Riverside Dr.
The unanimous approval to move forward with rehabilitation of Segment 2 of the Connecting Link, will see work completed west of the Shirley St. intersection to Government Rd. In addition to stripping existing pavement, grading and compacting the base, and re-applying a fresh layer of asphalt, work will include installation of a cement sidewalk between Shirley St. and the Government Rd. intersection.
This stretch of Riverside Dr. has been a topic of conversation, with increased foot traffic running between the Timmins Square retail mall and the busy Walmart corner. A sidewalk will improve safety and make accessing commercial properties along Riverside Dr. more accessible.
Motorists can expect lane reductions as construction work moves north and south, with possible congestion, but no lengthy road closures. Commercial vehicle trucks will still use the Shirley St. turn to connect with the standard truck detour along Laforest Rd.
This is the second stretch of the Connecting Link being completed this summer. Additional funding from the province’s Ministry of Transportation means that the work schedule has been moved up. Road closures for Segments 6 and 7 are already in place along Algonquin Blvd. west of Elm St. and east of Preston St.
For more information on Connecting Link construction, visit www.timmins.ca/connecting_link.
Amanda Dyer
Motorists can prepare to detour for Connecting Link construction starting Tuesday, April 25. The City’s contractor is in town this week staging traffic controls for two detours that will divert vehicles off Algonquin Blvd.
Algonquin Blvd. will be closed to all traffic east of Waterloo Rd. and west of Elm St. with a small section from Preston St. closed to local traffic only. Motorists should be prepared to stop at temporary traffic lights and/or stop signs along each detour route.
A temporary 4-way stop will be in place at the intersection of Theriault Blvd. and Vimy Ave. and a temporary 3-way stop will be added at the intersection of Vimy Ave. and Mountjoy St. N. Temporary traffic lights will be used along the southerly route on Cameron St. S. at Commercial Ave. and on Commercial Ave. at Mountjoy S. Cameron St. S. and Wilson Ave. will remain the regular 4-way stop.
Commercial motor vehicles will continue to use the standard truck detour from Shirley St. to Lafleur Dr. and onto Laforest Rd. before connecting with Hwy. 655. A temporary speed reduction of 50 km/h is in effect along Airport Rd. from Laforest Rd. through the area of the Kraft Creek Bridge.
This year’s Connecting Link construction will see work from segment 6 completed through the Mountjoy intersection, before work on segment 7 begins. The Mountjoy intersection will be re-opened to traffic before crews start on the next section extending to Cedar St. Once again, work includes full-depth reconstruction of the roadway, replacement of underground services like water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer, and pole relocation. This is the second year of the three-year plan to prioritize the downtown Connecting Link route.
Sign up for Connecting Link updates at Timmins.ca and stay up-to-date on the latest construction news.
Amanda Dyer
Mayor Michelle Boileau was in Sault Ste. Marie today for a Northern Ontario Large Urban Mayors (NOLUM) meeting with the mayors and chief administrative officers from North Bay, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie.
This was the first opportunity the NOLUM members have had to meet in person and discuss shared priorities and concerns.
Topics of discussion included doctor/nurse recruitment, mental health and addictions, homelessness, downtown development, and municipal finances. As well, the need to strengthen collaboration with both the provincial and federal governments.
NOLUM is calling for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) to be made a permanent program to help with labour shortages and development.
NOLUM is asking that the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSM U) receive its fair share of medical student spaces allocated for the province.
NOLUM is asking for more support from the provincial and federal governments for consumption and treatment services.
NOLUM is asking for more action from both the provincial and federal governments to address the housing and homelessness crisis being faced by communities across the north.
Mayor Boileau thanks Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker for hosting the meeting and thanks her colleagues from across the north for the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with each other.
For more: https://saultstemarie.ca/Newsroom/April-1/Northern-Ontario-Large-Urban-Mayors-meet-in-Sault.aspx
Disponible en français.
Amanda Dyer
Timmins Transit is continuing an Earth Day tradition … free bus rides on Saturday, April 22.
Each year, Canadians are asked to join the green revolution. Helping our planet can be as simple as choosing public transportation. The benefits of riding the bus versus driving a private vehicle are well known. On-road transportation in Timmins is responsible for 37.7% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions as identified in the City’s 2019 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. Using public transportation helps lower our emissions and conserve energy and fuel by reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.
But the benefits of public transportation do not stop there.
Did you know?
- Public transit makes our roads safer. Transit operators generally have more driver training, drive at lower speeds, and avoid high-risk driving situations.
- Public transit reduces traffic congestion. This is particularly helpful during busy road construction and maintenance months.
- Public transit improves social equity by providing reliable transportation for all individuals regardless of ability, accessibility, age, or income.
- Public transit increases physical activity. A bus ride often starts and ends with some form of activity (like walking) to and from the bus stop.
On Saturday, April 22 ride the bus for planet earth! It’s free and it’ll give the environment a break. Where will you go?
Amanda Dyer
Daytime Snow Removal 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
From April 11 to April 14, 2023, the Public Works Department wishes to inform the public that crews may be doing snow removal.
Tuesday, April 11, Starting 7:30 AM:
Timmins North: Cherry, Patricia, Hart, Howard, Harmony, Burke.
South Porcupine: Shamrock, Bloor and area
Wednesday, April 12, Starting at 7:30 AM:
Timmins South: Belanger, Bannerman.
South Porcupine: Hellen, Helmer, Fern and area
Thursday, April 13, Starting at 7:30 AM:
Timmins South: Middleton, Windsor, Kent.
Schumacher: Bucket loading
Friday, April 14, Starting at 7:30 AM:
Timmins South: Way, Wendy, Montgomery, Columbus.
South Porcupine: Churches and storefronts
Note on the Plan:
The above plan or parts of the plan may be changed at any time and/or delayed if a winter storm is in effect or related to mechanical issues. The snow removal crew will change to a snow plowing operation. Those streets that may not be done will be done on the next available snow removal shift.
Illegal placement of Snow from Residential Property onto Sidewalk and Road:
A reminder that City BYLAW 1993-4162 does not allow a person to place snow from a person’s property and place onto the road or sidewalk.
Posted No Parking Signs Advising Winter Maintenance:
Public Works would like to remind residents that yellow No Parking Signs will be posted to notify that winter maintenance will be taking place for daytime operations. Vehicles not complying with these No Parking signs will be ticketed and towed to allow for snow removal crew to advance.
Winter Parking Ban:
A reminder that the winter parking ban is effect and parking on the street is not permitted on any day, between the hours of 11:30 PM to 7:30 AM, from November 1 through April 30.
Priority Sequence for Snow Removal Operations:
Day Operation:
Snow removal is never done in the area where waste and recycling collection is taken place.
High density residential areas (older section of City: one-ways, narrow streets)
Low density residential areas
Night Operation:
Highway sections;
High density commercial sections;
Main arterial routes
Safety:
A reminder to respect safety signage as the safety of workers is very important.
We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Public Works Department
Stephanie Tessier
Timmins Transit would like to advise the public that this Saturday, April 7, 2023, they will be running a modified Sunday schedule.
Hours of service will not change. Buses will be running from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Routes 901 (east-west), 902 (north-south), 7 (Park Ave.) and 6 (Riverside) will be in service. Changes will be reflected on the Transit Tracker.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Amanda Dyer
A Special Council Meeting has been called for April 11, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss the following:
- Labour relations or employee negotiations
For more information, contact the Clerks Department:
220 Algonquin Blvd. East
Timmins, Ontario
P4N 1B3
[email protected]
Amanda Dyer
The City of Timmins Public Works Department would like to advise the public that a city wide snow plowing operation is planned to begin Thursday, April 6, 2023 at 12.01AM.
Crews will be deployed to plow city streets, rural roads, laneways and parking lots across the city. Some areas may not be plowed overnight and will be plowed during the daytime hours.
We would also like to remind the public that the Winter Parking Ban is in effect. Parking on the street is not permitted on any day between the hours of 11:30 pm to 7:30 am, from November 1 through April 30.
Please note that not all areas will be completed on night shift.
We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.
Public Works Department
Stephanie Tessier
Today, City Council approved the 2023 Budget with an overall net levy increase of 3.26 percent, which includes the municipal contribution to agencies, boards and commissions (ABC’s). This translates to an approximate 2.35 percent tax increase for residential property owners. For a median property assessed at $192,000, this means an increase of approximately $85 per year or $7.08 per month over 2022.
This year’s budget increase can be attributed to an escalation in construction costs, with the City taking on the Golden Manor redevelopment project this year, and high costs in social services, health, and policing. To offset some of the increase, City Council opted to draw money from the City’s tax stabilization reserve and remove any council requests greater than $200,000.
Operating Budget
The City’s 2023 Net Operating Budget is $35,602,649 reflecting a net increase of $347,821, and is used to support municipal services like road maintenance, waste management, and public transit.
Cost drivers for Public Works continues to be an increase in material costs. Asphalt prices have increased by 27.5 percent; both the cost of salt and snow removal contractors have increased by at least 10 percent; traffic paint has increased by 30 percent; and fuel prices have gone up approximately 59 percent.
Capital Budget
The City’s tax supported contribution of $10,131,926 towards a total capital budget of approximately $29.7 million, includes an increase of $707,263 and is used to maintain, repair and replace municipal assets like roadways, bridges, municipal parks, and public transportation.
Many of the City’s capital projects are identified in the City’s Asset Management Plan, updated in 2022, and the Municipal Long-Term Financial Plan, implemented in 2020. The capital budget weighs current need against future growth and expansion.
2023 Budget Highlights Include:
• $20.8 million towards Connecting Link reconstruction - $10 million of total cost from provincial funding
• $4.9 million for various transit-related projects including terminal renovations, bus replacements, and farebox system software – offset with external funding
• $1.5 million for “grind and pave” road resurfacing
• $1.4 million for street lights and culvert replacements.
• $1 million debt repayment for Golden Manor – lessens impact when full payment is required in 2024.
• $950,000 for Public Works site upgrade design and purchase of an asphalt recycler and brine storage facility.
• $800,000 for recreation upgrades including continued development of the skateboard park and re-surfacing of the multi-use pad at Melview park.
• $500,000 for road upgrades to Government Rd. N. including pulverization, grading and surface treatment.
• $450,000 for landfill site orientation, improvements, and soil management facility development.
• $175,000 for Porcupine River Bridge design – funded by reserve.
Quotes:
“Creating a municipal budget that balances operating costs with future planning and investment is always a challenge,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “Council worked to minimize the impact to rate payers by eliminating council requests over $200,000, allocating funds from the City’s tax stabilization reserve, and prioritizing projects that will see a greater long-term return.
“Council is also committed to addressing key concerns that are impacting the well-being of residents today. That is why you will see a portion of the City’s Municipal Accommodations Tax set aside to explore options that support public safety. We are working with staff to determine the feasibility of expanding the City’s CIP Safety Improvement Grant and adding overnight private security and street outreach programs within the community.”
“While the City’s operating expenses are increasing due to higher material, utility, and labour costs, we have attempted to keep the overall impact in check,” says Dave Landers, Chief Administrative Officer. “This year’s budget captures the added cost of maintaining municipal services, while leaving room to invest in the programs and services that will move Timmins forward.”
Amanda Dyer
|