Canada/Lamarche adopts a $4.3 million borrowing by-law to renovate its town hall
The municipality of Lamarche has adopted a $4.3 million borrowing bylaw to renovate its town hall and fire station.
Local residents had until 7 p.m. Wednesday to sign a register requesting that the loan be put to a referendum vote.
However, according to Lamarche mayor Michel Bergeron, only five people signed the document, whereas the threshold was 67.
In an interview on C'est jamais pareil, Mr. Bergeron pointed out that the loan is linked to the Quebec government's Municipal Infrastructure Repair and Construction Program. The program allows for the return of subsidies to reimburse part of the costs.
Our final debt is $1.75 million for a complete renovation of our town hall. At 33 years old, we need to clean it up anyway, and then we'd really have an up-to-date town hall," he explains.
The work will also involve refurbishing the local fire station, located in the same building, which no longer meets the standards of the Régie intermunicipale en sécurité incendie secteur nord, of which Lamarche is a member.
Michel Bergeron is confident that, with the local population on the rise, the municipality will have no problem repaying the loan.
We can include it in our financial repayment capacity," he assures us.
The mayor estimates that renovation work can begin next summer.
Source: ici.radio-canada.ca
