M.D. of Taber moving ahead with drainage project

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Vauxhall Advance

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

The Municipal District of Taber is finally moving forward with public tender for the Township 8 Range 16 Drainage project.

During council’s regular meeting held on April 28, councillors discussed the process moving forward with the project.

In spring 2015, the M.D. of Taber applied to the Alberta Community Resilience Program (ACRP) for funding to enhance the drainage within the Township 8 Range 16 area south of the town of Taber which was successful. The work would be done six miles south of Taber, near Highway 513.

Over the past several years, work has continued to be completed and the M.D. is now ready to advertise this project to public tender to be constructed.

“This project is finally at a point where we are ready to put it to public tender. The cost and tender estimates are in place and we are within the approved budget and grant agreement amount. This is an ACRP funded project and the design is complete. We are ready to go and we want to put this to tender to be constructed prior to October 31, 2020, with the execution of the planting of the wetland which may extend into the spring of 2021,” explained Craig Pittman, director of infrastructure.

Within the 2020 Capital Budget, there is $2,580,000 approved with 90 per cent funding through ACRP and estimated project cost is well below the approved budget, according to administration.

“We will be 10 per cent of the actual cost incurred. All the land agreements are in place,” added Pittman.

Council was happy the project was finally moving forward.

“This is like 50 or 60 years of getting ready for this project,” said Reeve Merrill Harris.

A motion to proceed with the project and to advertise for public tender was carried unanimously.