Landowners in the Riverbend area of Battleford have petitioned against overlay work planned for their streets for this year.
The petition's validity should be determined by the next meeting of town council July 15.
The work for Riverbend was included in just under $1 million worth of street improvements planned for 2013, over and above the regular pot hole patrol and slurry projects.
The areas of Riverbend that were to receive asphalt overlay street improvements, for a total of $774,000, are:
Riverbend Crescent from 5th Avenue West to 35th Street;
Janet Place;
37th Street from 4th Avenue West to Gabruch Crescent;
36th Street from 4th Avenue West to 3rd Avenue West;
Janet Drive from Riverbend Crescent to 38th Street;
4th Avenue West from Riverbend Crescent to 35th Street;
Gabruch Crescent; and
3rd Avenuye from 35th Street to Riverbend Crescent.
Considered "local improvements" under provincial legislation, 70 per cent would have been paid by the Town, using gas tax revenue, and 40 per cent would have been paid by the residents of the streets involved, either by prepaying their share or adding the fee to their property taxes over a seven-year period with interest.
If the petition is determined to be valid, the town may not attempt to undertake the project for 12 months after the date on which the petition is certified. If the petition is insufficient, the town may proceed with the project.
The work that will go ahead are super micro surfacing street upgrades, for a total of $206,000, on:
20th Street from 1st Avenue West to Central Avenue;
18th Street from 2nd Avenue West to Central Avenue;
17th Street from 2nd Avenue West to 1st Avenue East;
1st Avenue East from 18th Street South (property line of Block 62, Lot 20) to north of 18th Street (cul de sac); and
1st Avenue East from 17th Street to 18th Street.
A bylaw passed June 17 authorizes the work. The town will pay for $123,601.56 while the landowners will pay $82,398.44.
Chair of the Municipal Services Committee, David George, congratulated those landowners who are going ahead with the improvements. They are improving their streets and their town, he said.
