City council plans to use nearly $5 million in provincial funding to pursue three projects that focus on the community’s water needs and protection for municipal staff from the pandemic.
The provincial government recently provided the City of Moose Jaw with $4.8 million through the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) to stimulate economic recovery after the pandemic damaged economies. City administration spent the past few weeks determining how best to use the funds.
During its recent regular meeting, council unanimously approved a motion to submit three projects for MEEP funding:
- upgrades to the high-service reservoir pump house for $3.9 million;
- installation of energy-efficient blowers at the wastewater treatment plant for $879,960; and
- COVID-19 protective measures for municipal employees for $54,000.
“I support the use of these funds as suggested … ,” said Coun. Brian Swanson. “The province is going significantly more into debt to stimulate the provincial economy in granting money to municipalities. And if we were not to receive this $3.9 million, we would probably have to find it ourselves, probably through borrowing, so this is a significant reduction to the cost of local taxpayers, at least directly.”
The municipality is securing funding for the new pump house — located south of the Lynbrook Golf Course driving range — through an application under a federal funding program, a council report explained. The federal program wants the municipality to provide 26.67 per cent of the cost — so the $3.9 million — while the federal funding would cover the remaining $10.7 million.
“This project is a high priority for the city to ensure water supply … ,” the report said.
The new turbo blower system could save the municipality about $173,000 per year on electrical costs, the report continued. While MEEP will cover $879,960, the remainder of the $1.4 million will come from the existing approved budget.
Since the reopening of municipal buildings will require protective measures and physical barriers to be installed, such as Plexiglas barriers, signage and card access systems, city administration intends to spend $54,000 on these changes.
Other possible projects
City administration also presented two projects it wanted to complete this year, although it would use existing cash flows to support these initiatives.
One project is to make upgrades to the Pla-Mor Palace dressing rooms for $109,000. This would allow the parks and recreation department to construct extra 200-square-foot dressing rooms to allow for male and female players to change separately.
A second project is to make upgrades to the Kinsmen Sportsplex for $125,000. The upgrades would include a new family change room, enhancements to the female public washroom and renovations to the front reception area. City hall is already using $110,000 in federal Gas Tax funding to support this project and needs an extra $125,000 to finish.
Coun. Dawn Luhning was disappointed that the demolition of the YMCA building was not on the list of projects to complete this year. She thought its demolition would have been a higher priority for safety reasons.
Upgrading the dressing rooms at Pla-Mor Palace has been a long, outstanding project that addresses inclusion issues, said city manager Jim Puffalt. Furthermore, the cost to demolish the Y has now exceeded $300,000 and city administration believes it’s becoming too far extended on projects.
“We think we can limp the Y along for the new few months, then put it on the budget in the fall and in January or February do the demolition,” he said.
After discussing the two projects, council voted 6-1 to table the initiatives until city administration provided a report with more capital-project options on which to spend the $234,000.
Coun. Crystal Froese was opposed.
