Grey County's proposed municipal road transfer has been deferred as council looks to incorporate more municipal feedback into the plan.
The road transfer has been in discussion for years, with the County looking to download responsibility of stretches of Grey roads in urban areas like Owen Sound, Hanover, Flesherton, and other communities in exchange for assuming control of municipal rural roads.
Over the last month, the County sought feedback on the proposed transfer from its nine municipalities, with most raising a range of concerns related to operations, costs, and long-term capital needs.
Head of the Road Exchange Task Force, Councillor Scott Greig, acknowledged their were concerns on how the transfers would be funded.
"The rural exchange roads are a large commitment and requirement to put in the County books," he said. "It's about $75 million going on to the books of the County. That's offset by $21 million coming off the books with roads being downloaded to municipal partners. The difference is levy, grant programs and (development charges) and if we're going to pull a lot from DCs to fund other items, that levy ask is going to increase for that rural road exchange in the future."
The task force’s initial recommendations, proposed transferring a total of around 82.5 kilometres of rural and urban roads to member municipalities in exchange for about 35.5 kilometres of rural roads uploaded to the County. The proposal also included a 10-year funding model intended to help local municipalities transition to their new road responsibilities.
At Thursday's meeting, council was presented with options, including whether to proceed with the plan as recommended, defer until a new Transportation Master Plan is developed, or bring back a new report that incorporates the feedback from municipalities.
Greig said a new Transportation Master Plan would result in future council ending up in the same place, and said they shouldn't dismiss the work of the task force.
"I understand the complexities of trying to ensure that we have a transitional funding formula that is fair and responsive to the concerns that we hear," said Greig. "We have to continue the work of the Task Force to be able to generate that outcome, not just dismiss it and all the work that's been done at this point... at the end of the day, the ultimate decision is on money. If you don't want to put it on the County books, don't move the initiative forward, but don't just kick it."
Council then voted to indefinitely defer the original road transfer motion and directed staff to prepare a new report for the Task Force later this year. The County says each member municipality will be encouraged to appoint two non-voting staff representatives to participate in meetings and provide additional local perspective.
