William Crooks
Members of Hatley Township council gathered at the May 6 meeting to discuss road repairs, zoning updates, and upcoming infrastructure projects
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In Hatley Township, the state of the roads dominated discussion during the May 6 council meeting, with Mayor Vincent Fontaine openly acknowledging the staggering cost of bringing the municipality’s network of roads up to standard: $40 million.
Held at the town hall, the meeting was attended by six residents, several of whom raised concerns during the question period about deteriorating road conditions across the township. Their complaints ranged from potholes and collapsing surfaces to roads damaged by heavy vehicle traffic.
One resident described calling the municipality about a gaping hole on a road in the area. Within 15 minutes, workers were on site and promptly installed a barrier to secure the area. While residents expressed appreciation for the quick response, they also emphasized the overwhelming scale of the issue. Mayor Fontaine confirmed that Hatley is responsible for maintaining approximately 98 kilometres of roadway—no small task given spring thaw damage.
“In the spring, it’s terrible,” Fontaine said. “We’ve got 98 kilometres of road to maintain. We’ve done the main arteries, and now we’re moving on to the rest.”
The mayor revealed that a recent report presented by the MRC put the total cost of fully restoring Hatley’s roads at $40 million. “When we saw that report, everyone had a tear in their eye. We knew we’d never be able to do it all,” he admitted. “We have an annual budget of about $5 million. For the entire territory, $40 million is just impossible.”
However, some funding is being strategically allocated. The mayor explained that proceeds from the local quarry—amounting to over $500,000—will be spent on specific roads near the extraction site, including Chemin d’Albert-Mines, and Chemin Rogers. The upcoming $1.375 million project on Chemin du Lac will be financed in part by that fund, as well as with provincial grants and a long-term loan.
Still, residents voiced frustration. One questioned whether it might be more efficient to reduce road widths to save on maintenance. The mayor acknowledged that narrower roads could be considered during new construction projects, though he said decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
“We try to adapt our methods,” he said, “but there’s no universal solution.”
Another resident suggested reintroducing a local surtax to help pay for road maintenance, recalling one previously levied for paving. Fontaine responded that while a surtax had funded asphalt projects in the past, it wasn’t currently being considered for maintenance work.
In the face of limited resources, temporary fixes remain a priority. Council approved a cold patch asphalt contract worth up to $311,244 to plug potholes ahead of larger repairs. “Until we can fully redo all the roads, we still have to maintain them,” said one councillor. “This is an interim solution.”
The issue of line painting also came up. Last year’s contractor was unable to complete the work, prompting a discussion about whether it might be sufficient to do line painting every two years instead of annually. Ultimately, council decided to proceed with a $20,825 contract for 2025 to ensure safety—particularly during snowstorms, when faded or missing lines can cause confusion for drivers.
Other decisions included hiring summer employees for public works and approving minor renovations to the upper-level bistro space in the town hall. These renovations, which will include replacing doors and flooring, aim to make the space safer and more welcoming for public events. The presence of a marmot sneaking into the hall was mentioned with a touch of humour during the discussion.
Also approved was a $15,000 allocation for granular materials to improve parking near the municipal swimming area on Chemin Kingdom. Employees of the town will complete the work. A resident also raised concerns about ambiguous pedestrian crossings near Parc de la Chaumière, suggesting one in particular be removed due to its odd placement. Council said they would review it.
Environmental concerns were addressed in a proposal to reforest a portion of municipally owned land. The township accepted a $4,750 offer from the Conseil régional de l’environnement de l’Estrie for site analysis and planning. The project aims to reduce erosion and sediment runoff into a nearby creek.
Council also passed zoning amendments for areas near Autoroute 410, designating one section for small commercial operations without storage or fuel stations, and adopted a conditional use regulation for the EX4 zone, located near two local quarries. These changes were described as steps toward better land-use planning aligned with recent public consultations and development plans.
Additionally, a $1.375 million borrowing bylaw was introduced to fund the Chemin du Lac resurfacing project. The mayor emphasized that while the funding includes a significant quarry contribution and anticipated subsidies, a portion will be financed through debt.
Finally, council approved the latest financial report, which will be available on the township’s website, and adopted a routine list of expenses and accounts payable totalling roughly $24,000.
Despite the difficult road ahead—figuratively and literally—Fontaine encouraged residents to continue reporting issues either by phone or through the municipal website. “That’s the best way to get it into our system,” he said, “and our teams prioritize interventions based on what’s reported.”
The meeting lasted about 30 minutes and was adjourned around 7:30 p.m.