Kenora’s assets grow to $1.4 billion

The City of Kenora has $1.4 billion worth of infrastructure it has to take care of.

That includes roads, bridges, building and things like sewer and water lines.

Mayor Andrew Poirier says a recent report shows that 23 percent of that is not in very good shape.

“To see that number is mind-boggling, because it’s like $325 million in poor to very poor (condition),” was Poirier’s reaction to the city’s most recent Asset Management Plan.

“That’s a good chunk out of $1.4 billion.”

Jay Noble is the city asset manager and Kenora’s percentage of infrastructure that’s listed in poor, to very poor condition is not that unusual.

“Just from my network of colleagues…we’re all in a very similar position in terms of infrastructure being in fair to low condition.”

The city’s most recent asset management plan shows that 77 percent of the city’s infrastructure is in fair or good condition.

The report shows the city has an infrastructure deficit of about $15 million dollars annually, and if it wants to reduce that, it would have to raise taxes by 2 percent.