The Municipality of North Norfolk's going to make significant progress in their work to expand their rural water lines, thanks to $2.25 million in grants from two levels of government. This week the municipality was named one of 27 communities to receive a significant cash infusion, with North Norfolk receiving $1.5 million from the federal government, and $750,000 from the province. While historically funding agreements have seen the municipal, federal, and provincial governments splitting the cost three ways, the latest announcement will see the municipality only need to cover 25 per cent. Mayor Neil Christoffersen's excited to see the boost in funding, noting it will help the municipality pursue other projects in the future. 

Mayor Neil Christoffersen

"The 25 per cent that's put in by the municipality is covered by a connection fee from the people involved that are getting the water. Anything that's left over that isn't covered in the 25 per cent is paid for out of the municipal purse. We're quite pleased that number will be smaller this year too, so we'll have money to do other projects."

Christoffersen says this funding will be used to continue the expansions that have been ongoing for years, with the latest project connecting about 50 families throughout the municipality. He says they've been doing what work they could over the years but explains this latest installment of funding will help make a good dent in their need.

"We have a number of projects in the area that we've kind of had on hold for the last few years because of the federal funding we'd been waiting for. We've been doing projects as we get the money to do them in the past, but it's pretty slow without all three levels of the government at the table to participate in them. We're pleased with the announcement."

Christoffersen says they already have the plans and preliminary costs in place, so there's not much work to be done before they're able to break ground. He also notes they've been drawing out the lines over the years, allowing these expansions to go further. As with the other projects being funded through the latest announcement, the work must be finished by March 2018, so Christoffersen hopes they're able to break ground in the fall.