STEPHENVILLE — Tom O'Brien says Stephenville is going in the right direction and council is continuing to explore every possible avenue in regards to new industry. However, the mayor refused to say what opportunities the town is working on.
Addressing the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce at a regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the mayor said there are four active files in relation to new industry. These are in addition to the salmon smolt hatchery, which is getting close to an official opening. But he would not say what the other files involved as they are "confidential."
He said that's the way the businesses involved want to have it until such a time as they're ready to make an announcement on whether they're a go or not.
"There are some good possibilities that we continue to explore," he told the 20 or so people in attendance.
O'Brien said council is also hoping to get other work approved under its applications for 2012-13 for a total of $3.2 million, which could involve an upgrade of Russell Heights, and upgrades to St. Clare Avenue and Crescent Street.
Under capital works, there will be reconstruction of a 350 linear metre portion of Pleasant Avenue done this year, which comes at a cost of $773,644 from a previous year's approval, the entire reconstruction of York Avenue at a cost of $930,083.67 from gas tax money, another $436,000 in street recapping throughout the town.
Another capital works project this summer will be the painting of the exterior of the Stephenville Dome, along with other maintenance work. It is hoped that capital money will be received for an upgrade to the mechanical system and civil work at the Regional Aquatic Centre at an estimated cost of $1.1 million.
While there are some available residential lots at different subdivisions in the town, many of them are getting reaching capacity so the town will soon be requesting proposals for a new Minnesota Drive subdivision, which will start near Pieroway Park and work it's way up behind Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital.
"This will be a phased-in development, which will eventually have 150 residential lots and four hectares of commercial space," he said.
The request for proposals will soon be published, he said.
Permits issued:
Home permits
2010: 30 valued at $5.5 million
2011: 28 valued at $5 million
2012 (to end of May): 11 valued at $2.1 million
Business permits
2010: 16
2011: 17
2012 (to end of May): 12
Commercial renovations
2010: 22 valued at $1.7 million
2011: 44 valued at $3.3 million
2012 (to end of May): 13 valued at $1.1 million
