Four options.
For $10,000 the Town of Battleford can become the owner of the camera equipment it needs to check out the sewer mains under the streets affected by its ongoing asphalt program.
For $10,000, council can hire the current owner to do the work - this year and again and again each year it's needed.
For $14,000, they can hire someone else entirely to do the job, this year and again and again each year it's needed.
For between $13,000 and $15,000, they can buy new the very minimum equipment needed, but without a generator to run it or any unit to provide viewing from.
It didn't take long Tuesday for Battleford's town council members to decide to buy the used equipment - and even with the addition of $1,000 for the current owner to run the camera and train town personnel, and another $3,000 for additional equipment, it's still under budget by $1,000.
In his recommendation to council regarding the camera inspection that needs to be done on 10,000 feet of sewer mains, Kevin Chaykowski, utilities superintendent, said Kim Sherman of Sherman's Maintenance Ltd. has offered to sell his equipment to the town.
That would include the maintenance camera bus, camera equipment (with training on its use), VHS to DVD machine, generator, walkie-talkies, reels and guides, tool box and accessories. Sherman would sell the equipment for the sum of $10,000, plus charge another $1,000 to run the camera, said Chaykowski.
"So for $11,000 we could own the equipment and have our sewer lines inspected," he wrote.
He added the equipment is somewhat outdated but is in good shape, and suggested purchasing a DVD burner and LCD monitor as well for an additional $3,000.
Municipal services standing committee chair David George said over the next five to 10 years, as the town continues the asphalt program being implemented this year, the town could be paying $14,000 per annum having sewer main inspections done. Or, they could pay once this year for the equipment and training and do it on their own in the future.
The asphalt program begins this year with just under $1 million worth of street improvements considered "local improvements" under provincial legislation. The cost of those improvements is to be shared between the town and the affected property owners. Seventy per cent is to be paid by the town, using gas tax revenue, and 40 per cent is to be paid by the residents, either by prepaying their share, or having the fee added to their property taxes over a seven-year period with interest.
Notices have been sent out to the affected property owners. As of Tuesday, no petitions had come in to Town Hall.
