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Town planning $12.732 million in capital projects

If everything goes according to schedule, the town will spend more than $12 million on capital projects over the next 12 months.

If everything goes according to schedule, the town will spend more than $12 million on capital projects over the next 12 months.

However, some of the projects may be delayed into 2015.

Councillors approved the draft capital budget, for circulation to ratepayers, following extensive meetings which ended Saturday afternoon. The budget will be back in front of councillors at the Feb. 10th meeting for approval.

Public works projects accounted for the bulk of the cost — totalling $8.563 million.

Construction of the second phase of the sanitary sewer main upgrade on 50th Avenue, from 41st to 47th Street was pegged at $2 million. This is the town’s oldest sewer main and its replacement is needed due to age and the need to increase capacity for development in the town’s west end. The remainder of the project, is planned in conjunction with work at the intersection of 50th Street and 50th Avenue.

Lagoon upgrades are planned at a cost of $1 million; a study in preparation for a new water well is slated at $100,000 and development of a wetland on the south side of Lakeshore Drive in the Golf Creek area, adjacent to Willow Springs subdivision, is projected to cost $40,000.

The last water well took five years to get all the approvals necessary and bring it on line, said Alan Gassor, the town’s director of public works.

Work on Phase 5 of Lakeshore Drive, from 50th to 52nd streets is slated at $1.9 million. Involved in this project is reconstruction of the 50th Street intersection, improvements around the corner, extending the promenade to the east corner of the marina property and overlaying pavement.

Traffic signals are planned at the corners of Herder Drive and 47th Avenue and 50th Street and 45th Avenue at a cost of $400,000 at each location.

Another $510,000 is dedicated to the final phase of the community centre parking lot which includes improving the front entrance and dealing with the drainage ditch.

A sidewalk along the west side of 50th Street from Sylvan Drive south to Beacon Hill Drive is projected at $410,000 although this could be reduced depending on whether part of it uses the road through the cemetery.

Replacement of the sidewalk on Harrigan Street is included in the capital budget, at a cost of $103,000.

The public works - transportation portion of the budget also includes a number of design projects in preparation for work in future years. These include the 50th  Street design from Lakeshore Drive to 48th Avenue, including realignment at the 50th and 50th intersection; design for modernization of streets in the cottage area; West Village; and on Lakeshore Drive from the roundabout to 33rd Street.

One of the topics which perked the interest of councillors was $650,000 for parking in the marina area.

“We’ve got to move on this,” said Councillor Dale Plante. “We know very well that $650,000 is not going to do a lot. As far as I’m concerned the whole marina is costing us more than $1 milllion in problems. It’s costing us a lot more than we thought it would.”

Mayor Sean McIntyre indicated he was “glad to see it’s on the radar. We need to get it underway”.

Councillor Matt Prete agreed it’s an issue and asked for an interim solution by June. He suggested an idea involving private property that would have to be investigated.

“So we’ve got $650,000 and no idea what we’re doing but it has to do with parking?” questioned Councillor Jas Payne. He was flabbergasted that an idea hasn’t been found. “It seems we’re still trying to grasp for ideas and its years past.”

Betty Osmond, the town’s chief administrative officer, said there have been sites looked at for purchase but the amount available is “not sufficient to address the long term”.

Councillor Graham Parsons defended the decisions of past councils. “There’s always been a parking problem ten days of the year. The marina is rarely at capacity. To make this development move forward we took cash-in-lieu of some parking.” It’s partially that money that’s dedicated to finding a solution.

Under the heading of community services and facilities, the total for capital projects is $2.365 million.

That includes $1.5 million already announced as the town’s commitment for a new curling rink, $330,000 for library renovations and reroofing; $170,000 for a drainage culvert Town’s capital projects...at Four Seasons Park; $150,000 for trail development; $100,000 for beach enhancement; $65,000 for replacing equipment in Meadowview Playground; $40,000 for Lighthouse Park (in the marina area); and $10,000 for design of a spray park, including determining a location, size, and public consultations so there’s a budget determined for actual construction.

The beach enhancement project is dependent on provincial approval.

Ron Lebsack, the town’s director of community services, said he had a meeting set with Alberta Environment for next week. Two options would be discussed — bringing sand back to the seawall or replacing grass with sand on top of the seawall.

“It’s become very clear the province has absolutely no intention of improving that park,” said Mayor Sean McIntyre, explaining why the town would be involved.

A list of new and replacement equipment was contained in the mobile equipment section of the capital budget for a total of $1.804 million. It included a new aerial fire truck at a cost of $1.3 million and an additional radar trailer at $25,000.