Gananoque council to consider four-year contract for sidewalk inspections
Gananoque council is expected to decide Wednesday whether to award a four-year contract for annual sidewalk inspections as the town looks to strengthen its infrastructure monitoring and reduce liability risks.
Council is being asked to approve a bylaw authorizing an agreement with Acadia Engineering Inc. to complete annual sidewalk inspections and reporting from 2026 through 2029 at a cost of $45,737 per year, excluding the town’s share of HST.
According to a report from manager of public works David Armstrong, the town is responsible for maintaining about 55 kilometres of sidewalks, made up primarily of concrete, along with sections of interlocking stone and asphalt. Provincial regulations require municipalities to inspect sidewalks at least once each calendar year, with no more than 16 months between inspections.
Historically, town staffers have completed the inspections by walking the sidewalk network, marking hazards with bright orange paint and documenting deficiencies for future maintenance. While some repairs have been completed annually, the report notes many identified hazards have remained unaddressed.
The report also points to a growing number of lawsuits against municipalities across Ontario involving sidewalk slips, trips and falls, which it says are driving up insurance premiums and legal costs.
As part of the 2026 capital budget, the town issued a request for tenders for annual inspections and reporting. Two bids were received before the July 2 closing date, with Acadia Engineering Inc. submitting the lowest compliant bid at $45,737 annually. The second bid, from Safesidewalks Canada, was $50,237.80.
Town staff recommends awarding the contract to Acadia Engineering, noting the company has completed similar work for neighbouring municipalities with positive results.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.