CENTRE WELLINGTON – Termites are back on the Centre Wellington agenda with a new reimbursement strategy recommended by staff.
A report going to Centre Wellington council recommends council approve a grant program to partially reimburse property owners for termite treatment.
In summer 2022, the previous council approved staff to enter into negotiations with Balson Preventative Solutions Inc. to provide nematode treatment on properties with termite issues to a limit of $200,000.
A previous survey by an entomologist found approximately 259 properties in Fergus and Elora had confirmed or presumed termite activity with a further 219 adjacent properties at risk.
However, contract negotiations fell through in the fall and the termite treatment did not go forward. Township staff previously declined to discuss the details of why the contract negotiations failed with EloraFergusToday and the report only stated staff “were unable to negotiate a contract which met the requirements of the RFP (request for proposal).”
With the township’s termite issue back at council, staff are now recommending a grant program similar to one that was in place by the province from 1978 to 1990 where the Ministry of Environment funded a control program which enabled municipalities to assist property owners with the cost of termite treatment.
“The township could utilize the $200,000 already budgeted for termite management to fund a similar grant program,” Brett Salmon, managing director of planning and development, wrote in the report.
“It is anticipated that a grant program would consist of a grant of approximately $500 to $1,000 per property to fund a portion of the actual cost of termite treatment.”
Salmon noted this program is relatively simple to administer and could be undertaken with existing staff while keeping the township out of involvement with the actual treatment which allows property owners to choose their own treatment options. It also provides a municipal record of properties having undergone treatment.
“This option both attempts to minimize both the financial impact and the risk associated with the termite management services on the township, while still assisting properties with the grant program,” the report stated.
If council supports this option, staff will bring a more detailed report to a spring meeting to get approval of the grant program specifics.
While the grant program is staff’s recommended option, the report also laid out a status quo option, where the township no longer engages in further termite management efforts, and one where the past request for proposal is refined and brought to market again.
This report will be discussed at a council meeting on Monday.
