Public Works

The Public Works department maintains the roads, sidewalks, bridges, culverts, ditches and storm sewers within the Municipal right-of-way. They are also responsible for Snowplowing and Snow Removal. In this section you can find information on the Roads Department, Water Department and Municipal Drains. 

Roads Department

After Hours Emergency Telephone Numbers

The Public Works department works from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding Statutory Holidays. In case of an emergency after hours please use the numbers listed below in the order provided. If it is not an emergency please leave a message for the Public Works Superintendent at (519) 524 4669 ext. 209. who will handle the problem during business hours.

For Emergencies Only:

Public Works Superintendent, Thomas McCarthy (519) 525 3759 
North Lead Hand, Jesse Scott (519) 525 7409 
South Lead Hand, Larry Brindley (519) 525 9264

Entranceways/Accesses

Construction and Alteration of Entranceways/Accesses to township roads requires the issuance of an access permit and/or permission from the Public Works Superintendent.  An Entrance Permit fee of $120 is required at time of request as well as a Refundable Deposit cheque of $339.00 which will be returned when final inspection has been completed and approved.

Entrance Policy Permit Form

Drainage Tile, etc.

All excavations across or under township roads or road allowances must be authorized by the Public Works Superintendent or Lead Hands before such work commences.

Drainage of properties are not allowed to outlet onto Road Allowances.

Fence Repair

THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL

SECTION: Public Works

POLICY: Fence Repair

COVERAGE: Township

Policy Statement:

General Damages: The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh will not be responsible for any damages to a property owners fence deemed to be located on Township road allowance.

Snow Removal: Private fence lines that are damaged by snow impact from Township equipment will be the property owners responsibility to repair. If there is sufficient evidence that the Township equipment came in direct contact with the fence, then the Township shall be liable for damages at the discretion of Council.

Construction: Private fence lines that restrict road construction or maintenance projects may be temporarily removed by the public works department as long as the property owner is in agreement. Said fence shall be restored to its original state upon completion of the road construction or maintenance project.

Date of Issuance: September 2002

Laneways

Property owners laneways will be not be maintained by the township.

Deposit of snow on roadway

No person shall deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission in writing so to do from the Ministry or the road authority responsible for the maintenance of the road.  
Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 181.

Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned vehicles left on township road allowances shall be towed away at the owner’s expense.

View the Abandoned Vehicles By-Law.

Please be advised that the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh plow operators have the authority to call tow trucks to remove vehicles interfering with Winter Maintenance.

View the Winter Maintenance Services By-Law.

Manure, Rockpiles, Brush and Debris

Manure, rockpiles, brush or debris will not be permitted on the road or road allowance. If not removed within a limited time period, the township will arrange for removal and the property owner involved will be billed for the cost.

Mailboxes

Mailboxes are to be installed at least 1 meter off the shoulder of the road. Damage caused by snow coming off of township equipment will be the property owners responsibility. If there is sufficient evidence that the township equipment came in direct contact with the mailbox, the township shall be liable for damages at the discretion of the Public Works Superintendent.

Road Maintenance

Unassumed Road Maintenance Work

An Annual Letter of Request and Understanding must be filled out and signed for each road maintenance request and then be approved by the Public Works Superintendent. The work carried out is on a cost recovery basis. 

Print an Annual Letter of Request Form or fill out the online form.

Please submit online form, fax, mail, email or hand deliver copies back. Letters of Request and Understanding for annual road maintenance must be received by April 1st each year.

Lakefront Association Unassumed Roads- Road Grant 

In October 2012, Council adopted a Roads Grant policy for the Township. The intention of the grant is to assist private associations with the maintenance and repairs of unassumed roads and it is understood the Township is not responsible for assuming the road. Under this policy, 30% of the total eligible expenses to a maximum of $800.00 per kilometer are eligible for recovery. 

This grant will be paid to the lakefront association upon submission of a form, provided by the Township, with the invoices attached and proof that the invoices have been paid. Only one cheque will be issued to each lakefront association annually. The submission forms must be received no later that November 30th. Any eligible work done in December of a current year will be paid with the grant for the following year. 

Roads Grant Policy

Roads Grant Form

Municipal Consent

Municipal Consent is the municipality's authorization for a utility to occupy a specific location within the Municipal Right-Of-Way (ROW). Municipal Consent’s are only issued to companies or persons who have the authority to construct, operate and maintain their infrastructure within the ROW. The Municipal Consent Form must be completed prior to any work beginning. 

Questions? Contact the Public Works Superintendent at pws@acwtownship.ca or (519) 524-4669 ext. 209. 

Municipal Consent Form 

Road Allowance Repair Policy

This policy established the proper procedure for repairs to lawns damaged by winter plowing operations on road allowances in Township hamlets and villages. For more information view Road Allowance Repair Policy | By-Law 05-2022

Water Department

Water Emergency Numbers 

Veolia Water

(519) 524-6583 During Working Hours 
(519) 524-0030 After Working Hours (Emergency Only)

Local Improvements

To view the current water rates please refer to By-Laws under Treasury.

Drinking Water Quality Management System

Financial Plan for Water Works

Fluoride and Drinking Water

What is fluoride? 

Fluoride is a mineral that protects teeth against tooth decay. Many communities in Canada add fluoride to the local water supply. In some parts of Huron County fluoride is found naturally in well water. People also get fluoride from food and dental products like toothpaste or mouthwash. Over the years the amount of fluoride that we take in from all these sources has been rising.

For more information: Fluoride Factsheet 2022

 

Fluoride Water Quality Letter- Benmiller

Fluoride Water Quality Letter- Century Heights

Fluoride Water Quality Letter- Huron Sands 

Municipal Drains

The Drainage Act provides for the construction and management of many of the communal drainage systems in rural Ontario.  "Municipal drains", are vital to the communities, roads and surrounding lands in rural Ontario. They reduce flooding, improve safety and reduce property damage. 

For information about Municipal Drains, please refer to the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs.

New Drain

Landowners in an area requiring drainage can sign a Petition for Drainage, which will set in motion a project to create a new municipal drain. This falls under Section 4 of the Drainage Act.

To download a copy of a Petition Form for a new drain- Section 4.

Maintenance and repair

The most common application is one that falls under Section 74 of the Drainage Act, which is your basic Maintenance & Repair work. This usually includes work such as cleanouts, removal of beavers/dams, repairing/replacing tile and generally repairing the existing drain in a way that does not detract from the drain's original construction.

To download a copy of a Notice of Drain Maintenance and/or Repair  - Section 74. 

Repair and improvement

If an existing drain requires significant repair and as a result the repair includes changing the original drain's infrastructure in a way that is different from the original engineered plans, an application should be filed under Section 78 - Repair & Improvement. Examples of this include widening, lengthening, deepening a drain, etc.

To download a copy of a Notice of Request for Drain Improvement for an existing drain - Section 78.

Tile loans

Installing tile drainage is a very common land improvement practice among farmers in Ontario. Corrugated plastic tubing, clay and concrete drain tile are installed beneath the surface of agricultural land to drain excess water from the crop root zone. The benefits of tile drainage for crop productivity, farm efficiency and even for reducing environmental impacts have been studied and are generally well known to farmers.

The Tile Drainage Act provides for loans to agricultural property owners to help finance these projects. OMAFRA has prepared a Fact Sheet about the Tile Loan Program. Tile Loan Application Forms are also available through OMAFRA or at the Municipal Office.

The program in a nutshell

Landowners in Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh planning to install a tile drainage system on their agricultural land are eligible for a tile loan under this program.

  • All tile loans have 10-year terms, and repayments are made annually with your property tax instalments.
  • Landowners are eligible for a loan of up to 75% of the value of the tile drainage work, up to $50,000
  • The provincial government sets the program interest rate. This rate is fixed for the full term of the loan, regardless of changes in market interest rates.

The application process is quite simple. The Application must be submitted to Council. Once Council approves the application, the owner arranges to have the work completed by a licensed tile drainage contractor (for more information see the OMAFRA Factsheet Agricultural Drainage Licensing.

The Municipality collects the loan repayments from the owner and remits them to OMAFRA. Defaulted payments are rare but are treated in the same manner as unpaid taxes. The loan can be repaid in full at any time. Contact the Treasurer, to find out the amount still owing at the time of your proposed payout date.

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