SUNDRE – The cost of crushing old concrete and asphalt that had been piled up and stored at the site of Sundre's sewage lagoon to be repurposed for use in back alleys and laneways in town ended up going over budget.
The concrete and asphalt crushing project had initially been contemplated in 2023 but was bumped to 2025 with a budget of $100,000 with the cost ultimately coming in over budget by a little more than $9,700, reads background information outlined in council’s agenda package for the April 28 meeting.
“The project is now complete, and the materials are ready for use in several maintenance projects in the community,” Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, told council.
That upkeep involves several laneways including the one that runs from Freson’s to the public parking at Centre Street South, the laneway from Centre Street to the pickleball courts, as well as the laneway on the southeast and southwest of 10th Street.
The cost for the trucking and spreading of the material is estimated at approximately $90,000.
Administration’s recommendation was for council to approve funding in an amount not to exceed $100,000, which includes both the budget overrun for the crushing as well as the rehabilitation of the laneways, with funds to be drawn from the general corporate stabilization restricted surplus account.
“The lagoon is now clean and clear, and this is going to just help boost up our alleyways?” Coun. Jaime Marr, who moved the recommended action, asked administration.
Nelson confirmed that was the case.
Coun. Connie Anderson offered the lone dissenting voice and asked how much material was involved.
“Because I think $90,000 for trucking it into town is awful high,” said Anderson.
Nelson said that there would probably be approximately 500 trucks loads required.
“It’s big,” she said.
“I saw the pile, it sure doesn’t look that big,” said Anderson.
Nelson said that was the quote the municipality received.
“And if you think of how many alleyways and laneways that that is going to rehabilitate, it’s a lot of materials,” she said.
Mayor Richard Warnock said council has known for a few years that those lanes required attention.
“We definitely need to do some upgrades and servicing to our alleys,” said Warnock.
The mayor said he hoped there would be a good result from the work for residents in terms of not only an improved surface on the laneways involved but also reduced dust, while along the way cleaning up the lagoon as well.
Nelson noted that a lot of the work would also be done by the municipality’s operations and road crew.
The mayor called a vote on Marr’s motion, which carried with only Anderson opposed. Coun. Owen Petersen, who had informed administration in advance that he would be absent, was not present for the meeting.
