HUMBOLDT — Humboldt council approved a 2021 budget that features more than $3.15 million in new capital projects.
The bulk of that money, close to $2.2 million, will be spent on repaving and water main replacement projects. Other major projects include a new outdoor skating rink/multi-sport court, a new turning lane, seed money for a new park north of the hospital and a St. Elizabeth Park to Main Street trail.
16th Street Water Main Replacement and Repaving
$1.6 million
The city’s largest project in 2010 will see $1.6 million spent replacing water lines and repaving sections of 16th Street.
“This is a large project for our department,” said Peter Bergquist, Humboldt’s public works and utilities director. “The difference from previous years to this year is we realize that with this particular road and how busy it is. We want to replace the water main, the base and the road structure in the same year.”
Water mains will be replaced and upsized from south of Highway 5 to 11th Avenue. Directional drilling will occur under Highway 5 to connect the water mains and create a looped system to the south side. This is expected to cost $714,700.
The 16th Street road from north of Highway 5 to 11th Avenue will be repaved for an estimated cost of $734,000, while north of 11th Avenue to 12th Avenue will be repaved for $187,000.
Michael Behiel, Humboldt’s mayor, said the project was a testament to administration and the previous council’s efforts to balance its budget.
“Four years ago, we wouldn't have been looking at doing anything like this, because we just didn't have the money and now we're actually getting able to do those projects that are going to bring back to the city,” he said. “I think it's a great starting point that's showing people that we're able to finally give back to the community.”
Councillor Amanda Klitch asked when the project would start. Bergquist said the request for proposal for the public was being worked on and they’d know more after contractors made their bids.
The mayor asked Bergquist if there was a contingency plan if bad weather made it impossible to complete the work. The public works director said there would be.
Other Repaving
$516,100
The city has four other repaving projects in the books for 2021.
Repaving Ninth Avenue from Ninth Street to 13th Street is expected to cost $209,800, 11th Avenue from Centennial Crescent to 16th Street would be $115,300, Fourth Avenue from Main Street to Seventh Street would cost $95,900, and 10th Street from Highway 5 to Ninth Avenue would be $95,100.
Outdoor Rink/Multi-Sport Court
$350,000
In July, the city received $350,000 of funding from the province to build an outdoor rink that can be converted into a multi-sport court in the months without snow.
“This project has to be installed and completed by March of 2022, so we will be sitting down right away with all the different stakeholders to figure out exactly what that's going to look like and iron out the final location for it,” said Michael Ulriksen, the city’s community and leisure services director.
The facility will be built to the standard required to host a future provincial summer games for tennis as well as serve the growing demand for all-season outdoor recreational amenities.
Councillor Rob Muench said the location is key.
“I think we want a location that most people can get to,” he said, adding that it needs to be handy for people to access and easier for kids to get there after school.
Landmark Place Road
$100,000
Residents along Landmark Place, a back alley road that starts beside Viking Wealth Management on Highway 5 and goes south, are asking for the road to be paved.
“For many of the residents in that area, that's their only access, is using that road,” Bergquist said. “There’s also been concerns of drainage and challenges with people shortcutting through there.”
Residents are hoping the city will block the access to Highway 5 to prevent that shortcutting.
“This particular project would take care of the drainage and the quality of the road.”
The project would be done as a local improvement. The majority of affected property owners would have to support it and then they would be charged the cost of completing the work.
21st Street and Highway 5 Turning Lane
$75,000
A new turning lane to turn north on Highway 5 onto 21st Street was funded by the provincial government last July, but no work has been done in 2020.
City documents said the turning lane would be similar to the one going south off of Highway 5 to the Uniplex.
Muench said he was wondering if that would be sufficient for such a busy intersection. Bergquist said the city was looking at a number of options.
“I don't have that answer for you right now because we haven't done a preliminary design on that. We have ideas but they haven't been down to paper yet.”
Jubilee Hall Flooring Replacement
$50,000
The wooden dance floor in the middle of Jubilee Hall is at the end of its life expectancy.
“In order to replace it, we'd be looking at a much larger contract or a much larger cost,” Ulriksen said. “Instead, we're looking to just remove the hardwood floor and replace the entire floor with tile.”
Behiel asked if resilient vinyl would be a better product for that floor. Ulriksen said he’d look into that.
Last year, the city had plans to remove a wall in Jubilee Hall and put a temporary sliding wall to increase capacity.
“Having met with those user groups, that was not the solution to the problem that we thought it would be,” Ulriksen said.
Muench said that it’s an idea that shouldn’t be discounted, as other convention centres have that capacity. Ulriksen said the city was looking at other ways to improve the convention centre.
North Hospital Park Development
$50,000
With a concept plan expected to be complete by the end of 2020, council is providing $50,000 in seed money to start development of a park north of the hospital.
“What we would like to see, once a concept has been approved and finalized by council, is that we go out and we do bring stakeholders to the table, fundraisers to help make this project go forward,” Ulriksen said. “I don't want this project to be a completely city-driven project.”
One possible development with the seed money is the installation of fencing for an off-leash dog park.
Muench said the city needs to do its homework, as he’s heard concerns from residents about issues in other communities with dog parks, like the mixing of small and large breeds.
“I think, before we just go and put up a fence and say it’s open, we need to really consult with the public and with other cities that have done this, and what the regrets are and what they would have done differently,” Muench said. “I think we also need buy in from the community on this one as well.”
Councillor Roger Nordick said the hill at the parking is being used and chewed up by snowmobilers, making it useless for togganers.
“Maybe some of this $50,000 needs to go into some signage and also a bit of enforcement as well.”
St. Elizabeth Park to Main Street Trail
$47,700
A 2.5-metre wide paved asphalt trail would connect St. Elizabeth Park to Main Street.
The trail would follow along the north side of 12th Avenue. It was deemed by the city that asphalt would be more cost effective than a traditional concrete sidewalk.
“This project has been a request for several residents – as well as a general observation from our department noting that there is no pedestrian connection at all for on 12th Avenue from 12th Street to Main Street,” Bergquist said, adding it's a fairly active corridor.
The project would also include six wheelchair accessible ramps at Main Street (2), Ninth Street (2), 11th Street (1) and 12th Street (1).
Highway 5 Streetlights - 17th St to Peck Rd
$40,000
New streetlights will be placed at the 21st Street and the Uniplex Entrance on Highway 5.
As well, there will be lighting installed on the south side of Highway 5 to illuminate the roadway to recommended lighting levels.
The project is expected to cost $40,000.
“This is a project that we identified during the MEEP (Municipal Economic Enhancement Program) funding discussions for the access improvements at Centennial Park as well as 21st Street,” Bergquist said. “The streetlights are spaced quite far apart in this section. Also, there's a dark spot right beside or when you're turning left from Highway 5 onto Peck Road.”
Uniplex LED Lighting Upgrades – Aquatic Center
$25,000
Over a period of five years, the city is planning to replace the lights in the Uniplex to power-saving LEDs.
The cost would be $25,000 per year. The first year would start with the Aquatic Centre.
“We had, at one point, looked at proposing a big mass overhaul in one year and doing it all,” Ulriksen said. “It was recommended to us not to take that approach simply because there is a life expectancy for these types of fixtures, and you'll be looking at a big hit again in a single year down the road.”
Muench asked why the lobby and arena wasn’t being done first. Ulriksen said the facility manager has told him there’s a better quality of light in those areas compared to the Aquatic Centre.
Glenn Hall Park Irrigation Conversion
$20,000
This project, funded by the province, would allow the city to water the two sports fields at Glenn Hall Park using the Humboldt Golf Club’s network of irrigation lines that utilizes storm water.
Right now, the city is using potable water, which is more expensive
Nordick said he was concerned about how dry the golf course’s retaining pond has gotten in the last three years.
“I don't know whether the investing would be a wise decision because if they're going to dry up, the investment is all for nought,” he said.
Ulriksen said that’s not a concern he’s heard from the golf club.
“If that's a concern, it is definitely something we can look into in more detail before we proceed with any work there.”
If necessary, the city could water the fields with potable water even after the work is done.
