ARICHAT - Much of the activity at last night’s Richmond Municipal Council meeting involved funding approval for several projects in the county’s east end.

Council has approved the use of an additional $40,000 from Richmond’s share of the Canadian Community Building Fund (CCBF) to construct a new facility to allow the provincially-run Point Michaud Beach to increase its accessibility.

The price tag had originally come in at around $36,000, and the county had already committed these funds, but a new estimate from Richmond’s Public Works department put the cost at $65,000, making the new spending necessary.

During the meeting, Isle Madame councillor Michael Diggdon advised that the shifting price tag was likely due to the changing costs of building materials – a cost he expected to drop again in the near future. However, Diggdon still voted with his fellow councillors in approving the new spending on the Point Michaud development. This will also include the installation of “Moby Mats” for wheelchair users to reach the beach's shoreline, mirroring successful efforts at Inverness Beach, which is also run by Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR).

Meanwhile, the county will also spend $500 for office equipment for the new L’Ardoise Acadian Heritage Society, which is seeking to further genealogy studies for the community. The councillor representing L'Ardoise, District Five representative and Deputy Warden Brent Sampson, said the funds would largely go towards start-up costs such as office supplies. 

As well, $3,000 will head from the municipality to the St. Peter’s Grand River Loch Lomond Pastoral Charge, to take care of repairs at the St. Peter’s United Church building, located on the west side of the village's main thoroughfare, Grenville Street.