Staff has settled on Sept. 21-25 for this year’s Hike Haliburton.
Director of economic development and tourism Scott Ovell said that based on feedback, they are going to go with the smaller hikes that were well received.
He said it is unknown what the status of COVID-19 will be but they are planning with protocols if needed.
One tweak he and new manager of tourism Tracie Bertrand have discussed is, “we’re just going to try and link the hike to some more culinary opportunities, and perhaps a little bit of shopping as well and any other events that are going to be taking place around the County at the time. Just try and circulate people around the County.” He said in addition to hiking, they’d like people to spend as much money as possible.
Coun. Andrea Roberts said one challenge is people register for hikes early, filling them up, and then do not show up on the day. She wondered what could be done, such as gathering people’s emails and reminding them the day before the hike or providing a means to unregister. She said she’d also like hikes along the rail trail with a possible shuttle service.
Ovell said he would talk to Bertrand about options and bring it back to committee of the whole.
Lower Cup Lake culvert
The County has awarded the contract for the Lower Cup Lake culvert rehabilitation on County Road 648.
The job is going to Premier North Ltd. of Huntsville for $477,266 plus taxes.
Director of public works Robert Sutton said the culvert was deemed a high priority in the 2020 bridge and large culvert biennial inspections report (OSIM 2020).
He said the project will include the rehabilitation of the culvert’s existing concrete footings and barrel.
He added the project will generally maintain two lanes of traffic with some temporary and intermittent day-time single lane closures with full-time flagging.
Sutton said the total 2022 construction, inspection and contract administration estimate for the projects is $513,739.43, approximately 45 per cent per cent under the 2022 approved budget of $932,000
