The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has released a breakdown of the Councillor Ward Funding Program for the last term of council.
The municipality reported that 91 projects have been funded to the tune of nearly $1.3 million and an additional 73 projects have had almost $850,000 committed to them, totaling just over $2.1 million from 2023 to 2026.
Almost $76,000 in funds remain and they'll be reallocated to councillor accounts should they be re-elected for the next term of Council.
If the money is uncommitted and a councillor doesn't keep their seat, they will be committed to lifecycle to support existing Councillor Ward Funding projects.
The total amount allocated annually to Ward Funding is $550,000, amounting to $2.2 million over the four year term.
The funds provided by Hydro One for recreational and cultural assets are intended to support initiatives identified as priorities within each ward, or in the mayor's case, throughout Chatham-Kent.
Here's a list of the bigger projects either funded or committed to:
$303,000 on wood carvings spread throughout Chatham-Kent
$145,000 for Taylor Park improvements
$60,000 to install wheelchair-accessible swing equipment in municipal parks
$63,000 on plaques to preserve and showcase the heritage and history of Chatham-Kent
$70,000 on crosswalks to memorialize Canadian military veterans across Chatham-Kent
$25,000 to create and show a documentary celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in Chatham-Kent
$36,000 to expand and enhance the Wheatley Arboretum with landscaping and plantings
$45,000 for a basketball court in McGregor Kinsmen Park in Blenheim
$35,000 for playground upgrades supporting inclusive outdoor recreation at CM Wilson playground
$45,000 on North Buxton Community basketball court upgrades
$27,000 for Dresden Dog Park landscaping and fencing
$42,000 for LED lighting for downtown Dresden lamp posts
$45,000 for Wallaceburg River of Lights holiday project
$50,000 for Wallaceburg Legion Memorial Wall honouring local veterans by name
Each councillor gets $25,000 annually, while the mayor receives $125,000 per year.
All but eight councillors spent all of their money.
The lowest spender was Councillor Trevor Thomson, spending only $37,000 of the $100,000 allotment on Ward 2 in four years.
