Premier Scott Moe joined several Moose Jaw representatives in turning the first shovels of dirt for the high-capacity reservoir’s new pump house project on Grafton Avenue.
As one of the many infrastructure projects across the province being funded by the provincial government’s Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP), the future pump house is expected to improve the quality of potable water provided to more than 20,000 residents in the city.
"[MEEP] is intended, yes, to provide services in our communities, but it is also intended to stimulate the economy as we get on the backside of the pandemic,” said Moe. “The idea is to give a boost to those shovel-ready projects that will improve service and create jobs in our communities across Saskatchewan.”
Moose Jaw has received $4.8 million from the province through MEEP, which is being used to complete several infrastructure projects chosen by the municipality over the next few years.
The high-service reservoir pump house project will utilize over $3.9 million in funding. City council has also committed another $10 million to the project. Construction will be done by Regina company Westridge Construction and will begin later this fall, with a competition date set for the summer of 2022.
The city will also be using $879,960 of the funding for a new blower at the wastewater treatment plant, to be completed in the spring of 2022, and $54,000 for the purchase and installation of safety barriers in city facilities as a COVID-19 response.
"We are pleased that we could provide funding for these foundational infrastructure projects in this community, projects that are crucial to the safety and the well-being of this community today and tomorrow," said Moe.
MEEP is part of a larger multi-year commitment from the Government of Saskatchewan, totalling a $7.5 billion investment into capital infrastructure over the next two years, as a response to the impact of COVID-19.
“We didn't want municipalities backing out on some of the infrastructure plans they had in place, because of the services, as we can see here today, that would be provided and also because of the jobs that are created when an investment is made,” said Moe.
Funding provided by MEEP must be used by municipalities by March 31, 2022.
