Petrolia/Warwick get extra for lost revenue at arenas, theater

Lambton municipalities are getting more funding to help deal with COVID-19.

The federal money is distributed by the province and is part of a $4 billion package negotiated in July. The province announced Wednesday a total of $299 million would go to all 444 municipalities across Ontario based on their population.

Lambton County received $722,000 in funding to use as it sees fit to balance the budget. Municipalities also received discretionary funding including:

• Brooke-Alvinston, $17,000
• Dawn-Euphemia $16,000
• Enniskillen $18,000
• Oil Springs $12,000
• Petrolia $30,000
• Plympton-Wyoming $44,000
• St. Clair $78,000
• Warwick $20,000
• Sarnia $407,000
• Pt Edward $17,000

Municipalities could also apply for extra funding to help cover some of the unforeseen costs.

In Central Lambton; Warwick Township received the most supplemental money – $494,000. Treasurer Trevor Jarrett says it covers losses for rental facilities such as Centennial Hall and the Watford arena where rentals are “virtually non-existent” compared to last year. Some of the money also covers lost revenue from the host agreement with Waste Management. The landfill shutdown early in the pandemic so the revenue to the municipality was not as high as it could have been.

Petrolia was another big winners there receiving $468,000. In a news release, CAO/Treasurer Rick Charlebois says the additional cash helps cover revenue losses at the Petrolia Y, the Greenwood Recreation Centre and the Victoria Playhouse which could not host a season this year.

“Our three main revenue generating operations have a combined negative financial impact of $538,000,” said Charlebois.  

Plympton-Wyoming received an extra $143,000 for reduction in the revenue from swimming lessons and rentals at the Camlachie Community Centre, increased costs for Emergency Management expenses including PPE and increased cleaning, and equipment for virtual meetings.

Point Edward received an extra $603,000, mainly to cover lost revenue from the casino hosting agreement.