Holyrood approves bigger scope of work for sewer upgrades

By Mark Squibb

Members of Holyrood council say the extra costs associated with additional sewer upgrades will be worth it in the long run.

“The engineering and design of this project has identified a more intense scope of work which would see an upgraded wastewater treatment plant, disinfection system, lift station, oxidation ditch and pump station,” explained councillor Steve Winsor.

The initial project was slated at $1.4 million, with the town on the hook for ten precent of the total project and federal government footing the rest of the bill.

The more intense scope of work outlined by Winsor calls would push that total cost to $2.2 million and force the Town of Holyrood to request an additional $799,580.

As per the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) regulations, The Town would be on the hook for 10 percent— or $79,958— of that additional cost, in addition to their initial 10 percent investment.

Winsor said that, should the motion be approved, the Town would borrow to cover the additional cost.

“That is not a budgetary item for this year, but we’re in a strong fiscal position so we can borrow that, and likely wouldn’t actually borrow it until next year,” said Winsor. “This is a small amount to bring sewer treatment to where it needs to be to ensure the Town is following federal regulations and to ensure we are providing safe, reliable services to residents using that service.”

Winsor added that as per the new scope of work, the project would be completed in one go rather than in a phased approach, which he said would likely result in less project delays and additional costs.

“The overrun means we’re going to get a more complete package,” said Winsor. “It’s better than a piecemeal, phased approach… It makes more sense to complete this in one go.”

Crawley reiterated that funds would not be borrowed until at least next year, and thus would not impact the Town’s 2024 budget.
“I know there were concerns previously that we were at the 16 percent mark for our borrowing, but we have gone down to 13 percent this year with a financial projection of about 10 to 11 next year, so we’re still in a very, very healthy place with our borrowing,” said Crawley.

Mayor Gary Goobie also expressed his support of the motion.

“Obviously, we’re all aware that that system is pretty old,” said Goobie. “I think it goes back to the seventies. And over the past several years, we have been encountering many problems with that system. If it’s not one thing, it’s something else. And residents have been reaching out now for quite some time, especially in the summertime when weather conditions are warm and everything else, there can be a bit of a stench in that area. That’s one issue. But the other concern we’re identifying in doing these major upgrades— and pretty well overhauling the system and doing it all in one shot, which I completely agree with, rather than doing it piecemeal— is that our community is growing, which means we have to have a good, reliable system functioning properly, that will be able to accommodate future residential and business growth long into the future. And we have the fiscal capacity to do it now, with our ten percent share.”

Winsor added that once the upgrades are completed, it would be in the town’s best interest to pay close attention to the system’s maintenance.

“There’s no point buying a new car if you’re not going to do the maintenance on it and change the oil,” said Winsor. “This is a big investment, and we want to protect our investment, and ensure that the maintenance is done on that machinery and whatever filters have to be changed are changed, and that these things are done on a periodic basis.”

“And we won’t be scrambling around looking for parts” added Goobie. “Because that was a major problem for so long. Because parts were no longer available, and we actually had to try and get parts made.”

The motion was passed unanimously.

Council then approved a motion to request a time extension for the project to allow time for completion of design and scope changes, pushing the end date from August 2025 to August 2026.

“To get it all done at one time, if we have to wait another year, I think that’s the way to go,” said Goobie.