A preliminary stormwater concern assessment and an infrastructure study were both accepted for information by the Penhold town council on June 25.
Both reports were accepted without much comment from council. The gallery heard the reports had been discussed in an in-camera committee of the whole meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Rick Binnendyk said the infrastructure report was devised for council's strategic planning sessions and is a key document.
The infrastructure study offers recommendations on water supply and distribution improvements, sanitary sewer system improvements to alleviate capacity problems, stormwater management and transportation.
Examples of the recommendations include upsizing all the water mains in the industrial section to 200 mm pipes, abandon the existing 150 mm force main from a lift station to Springbrook, and altering the intersection at Highway 42 and Waskasoo Avenue.
The stormwater concern assessment study had four areas it issued recommendations for. The intersection of Lee Street and Robinson Avenue, the intersection of Lincoln Street and Dundee Crescent, Emma Street west of Highway 2A and Windsor Close were the four areas identified.
Re-grading the ditch of Windsor Close was considered the most cost effective-option for that area. Repairs and cleanout of the existing roadway culvert were suggested for Emma Street. A larger intake was the recommendation for the Lincoln Street and Dundee Crescent area.
The recommendations for Lee Street and Robinson Avenue identified the first priority of extending and deepening the existing outlet ditch. After a year or two of observation, if needed a bypass line could be built for $660,000.
Mayor Dennis Cooper said in a later interview the stormwater concern assessment confirmed council's knowledge and provided them with a good plan.
He said council would be considering going forward with the ditch improvements recommended for the Lee and Robinson intersection. The ditch runs behind Jessie Duncan School, Cooper said, and the improvements would include putting a pipe in.
The goal is to “get the flow better,” Cooper said.
The report said the ditch improvements would cost about $235,000. Cooper said the funds would come from a combination of Municipal Sustainability Initiative funds and the town's reserves.
The improvements to the ditch could not start until winter 2012, he said. He said the ground needs to freeze first.
They'll be waiting on the further construction to see if the ditch improvements help with flooding issues.
“I don't think we're going to do the construction at Lee and Robinson,” Cooper said.
As for council actions on the infrastructure study, Cooper said they'll be looking to get money from the Water for Life program to improve chlorine wait times.
“It's a whole grant process we have to apply for,” Cooper said.
The study helps give council direction for future projects, he said.
“It gave a really good overview of our town in general,” Cooper said.
