Pipe repairs in need

Times Reporter      

 

The infrastructure under many parts of Strathmore is in need of repairs, which is why a combined amount of $720,000 was allocated to water and sewer main replacements in 2013. 

“We did not complete sewer main and water main replacements other than what were incorporated into our major project on Thomas Drive in 2013,” said Director of Operations and Engineering for the Town Jesse Parker at the Dec. 18 council meeting.

“In an effort to take on more significant projects with additional funds, this evening I come to council to ask that those funds be carried forward into 2014 to be combined with the funds that council have approved as part of the capital budget for 2014 for water and sewer main replacements.”

At a cost of almost $2,000 per metre, water and sewer main replacement costs can very quickly add up. 

The 2014 budget has $150,000 allocated to the project but Parker said it won’t take long to spend it, especially in the older parts of town. 

Some of the existing infrastructure consists of cast iron water mains, and clay tile sewer pipes. Parker said on Thomas Drive the replacement crew found interesting pipes, including a section made of wood. 

“We’re anticipating that we’re going to find a number of issues as we do replace these mains,” said Parker. 

In 2014 a project is planned to work on Lakeside Blvd, which has significant underground replacement planned. 

The funds are MSI grant funds that can be used and moved into a future year provided they are assigned to a specific project. Councillor Pat Fule asked about when MSI funds will start being put aside for things like a new multiplex, and suggested this money could be earmarked for that. The Municipal Sustainabiliy Initiative (MSI) is a grant, which means the funds cannot be put into reserve funding, which is basically what would need to happen if they were allocated to a project such as a multiplex. For a project of that magnitude, which would be expensive, the town would need to set aside reserves for a number of years. 

“I would be really disappointed if we were to take that money out of the water and sewer capital for the replacement of our sanitary system which it direly needs and put it towards something like, I don’t even want to mention it, but that to me would be totally irresponsible,” said Councillor John Rempel.

Parker said administration has been looking at some easy project water and sewer main replacement areas that they can tackle where they think they can get some good bang for their buck.

“I totally understand that we want to be responsible and make sure that this money goes to something as important as the water and sanitary replacement, but at some point we’re going to have to start allocating serious amounts of MSI funding toward a major capital item like a multiplex. It’s got to happen soon,” said Fule. 

A motion was made and approved to reassign the funds to be combined with the 2014 capital budgets for both water and sewer main replacements.