Photo pulled from Andy Kooistra's presentation to council. March 8, 2022.
The Waterford Trail Association has to make their case to Norfolk County once again.
Earlier this month, Andy Kooistra, from the trail association, presented a deputation about the trail to Norfolk County Council asking for financial help to pave the Waterford Heritage Trail to meet with Brant County.
The total cost of the project is expected to be around $500,000. The group is asking for $100,000 from council, with the rest being fundraised. Around $60,000 has already been raised by the group.
The motion was passed for staff to include this on the 2023 budget, with the stipulation that the group must have their portion of the cost raised by January 1, 2023.
But now, council is beginning to question the reasoning behind paving a trail.
That was councillor Chris Van Paassen.
Maintaining the trail is one of the factors councillors brought up, considering the long-term cost of having a paved trail.
Councillor Linda Vandendriessche also considered other places money for paving could go.
Eventually, Councillor Kim Huffman deferred the conversation to allow a member of the trail association to be present to answer questions the group may have.
We will provide an update when that follow up meeting happens.
Written by Ashley Taylor