Posted By Patrick Brennan, TIMES-JOURNAL STAFF

St. Thomas was dealt bitter news Friday that it won't be able to continue planning for its new police station as the city was shut out of infrastructure grants announced by the federal and provincial governments.

As many Elgin municipalities celebrated receiving grants announced Friday afternoon at Aylmer's municipal office, St. Thomas officials -- who did not attend the rollout of the grants -- had to live with the fact the city got nothing.

"We're disappointed we did not get on this list," Mayor Cliff Barwick said in an interview from his home as he made preparations to leave for Japan next week with economic development officials.

Still, the mayor managed to put a hopeful spin on the news, noting he had been told by Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Joe Preston that there were other announcements coming.

"His conversation with me was encouraging," Barwick said. Preston told Barwick the city's application could qualify for a grant under an environmental program that might generate cash for a new police station.

Barwick said the city applied under the federal-provincial Build Canada program for between $10-$15 million to build headquarters for the St. Thomas Police Service.

City police had made a solid case over the past several years they are bursting at the seams in the current Colin McGregor Justice Building on St. Catharines Street and need a new home.

Over the past several months, city officials and senior administration with St. Thomas Police made it clear the application for a new police station was the top priority for here.

In total, eight separate infrastructure projects valued at $27 million for municipalities in Elgin-Middlsex-London were announced.

Aylmer, Bayham, Dutton/Dunwich, Elgin county, Malahide township, Southwold township, Middlesex county, and Thames Centre all benefitted as their applications for projects ranging to pollution control plant upgrades to road reconstruction were approved.

All grants aware awarded on a formula that sees the federal government, province and municipality split the total cost.

"Today we are investing in the heart of our local rural communities," said Preston. "We are delivering results to Elgin-Middlesex-London residents in these difficult times by building roads, bridges, investing in water and waste projects and community centre. "These important investments will create jobs and help our economy now and for years to come."

"Strengthening our riding's municipal infrastructure backbone will boost the fiscal health of communities and improve the daily quality of life of all residents," said Steve Peters, MPP for Elgin-Middlsex-London. "These projects will put local communities on a more solid footing to tackle our shared challenges and forge a brighter future."

The projects are part of 289 announced Friday are under the $1 billion federal-provincial infrastructure program.

Projects announced:
- Aylmer, $274,500 from each level of government for a sewer separation project on Fourth Avenue;
- Bayham, $720,948 for water distribution system upgrade, total value $2.1 million);
- Dutton/Dunwich, $$164,000 for a Celtic Line culvert Line replacement, total value $492,000;
- Elgin County, Calton Line/John Wise Line road reconstruction, $1.89 million, $5,6 million, total cost;
- Malahide township, $678,536, Springfield Community Centre replacement, $2.0 million total
- Middlesex County, $2.2 million, Dorchester bridge replacement, $6.8 million total
- Southwold township, $81,333, Oneida Road bridge replacement, $244,000 total
- Thames Centre, $2.9 million, Thorndale Pollution Control Plant, total, $8.8 million