The Battleford cemetery needs some work.
Battleford Town Council approved a proposal Tuesday for a geotechnical investigation in order to see how much work will have to be done.
"There has been some slope instability at the northwest corner of the cemetery," said Derek Mahon, mayor, as council received the information from P. Machibroda Engineering Ltd. of Saskatoon. The engineering firm did a visual site inspection Aug. 20 of the cemetery that overlooks the North Saskatchewan River west of the traffic bridges.
Upwards of 80 graves in the old section from the late 1800s to early 1900s, including some members of the North West Mounted Police, could be affected.
"This is something that just showed up this year, to this extent," said Mahon.
The geotechnical investigation is the first step to remediation, he said.
The work is to be done within the next few weeks at a cost of $26,400, which has not been allowed for in this year's budget.
"This will have to come from reserves," said Sheryl Ballendine, town administrator. "This is not something we planned to do."
The information from P. Machibroda Engineering Ltd. said the visual site inspection was conducted to review slope instability causing some of the existing gravesite to deform or settle. The next step is to do an analysis to determine the extent of the cemetery that may be affected by the slope instability and to provide recommendations for stabilizing the slope.
The plan is to drill two test holes up to 25 or 30 metres deep at the crest of the slope and two intermediate test holes of 12 metres at the toe of the slope.
Field logs will be compiled during drilling to establish the soil stratigraphy, the groundwater conditions, the position of unstable sloughing soils and the depths at which cobblestone and/or boulders are encountered.
Testing of soil will also be done in a laboratory.
With the results, theoretical analyses will be done to come up with possible solutions.
Mahon noted that Meridian Surveys has also been on the site, checking weekly for at least the last two weeks and will probably continue for the next month.
Council members also heard at the meeting that the columbarium they approved recently has been installed. Ballendine said there have been inquiries and even some sales. The public can contact Town Hall to reserve columbarium niches, just as they would for grave or cremains plots.
Council approved a tender May 6 from Rose City Memorials of Cut Knife to build the 28-niche columbarium at a cost of $22,500 plus taxes, and an additional $1,600 for the foundation.
The town decided to add the structure in response to requests from the public for such a facility. It is located in the centre of the cemetery where there will be ample room for expansion if needed.
At the last regular council meeting, new rates were set for the sale of cemetery plots and for service fees such as opening and closing gravesites.
