By Andrea Nicholl
Three levels of government came together on Friday morning to announce significant investment in the city’s infrastructure and future sustainability.
Leon Benoit, MP for Vegreville-Wainwright and MLA Lloyd Snelgrove joined Mayor Jeff Mulligan to celebrate and announce the funding of two area projects.
Officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the overlay work on Highway 17 from the City of Lloydminster north boundary to Highway 45 and the city’s West Sanitary Sewer Trunk- Phase I project.
The Governments of Canada and Alberta jointly announced a total eligible cost of up to $3.2 million toward the highway project, and committed up to $1.4 million toward the West Sanitary Sewer Trunk project.
“This milestone event is positive news for this community because it supports local workers, the economy and will benefit residents for years to come,” said Benoit.
“I don’t think anything holds back the growth of a city or town more than not having the infrastructure that allows new development. Having serviced lots available is key, if you haven’t got that you won’t have the development and that’s the bottom line.
The proposed sanitary trunk will have a 1,050 millimetre diameter and will stretch approximately 1.3 kilometres. The trunk will continue north to 63 Avenue and 52 Street, along 52 Street and head north on 62 Avenue.
“It’s a fairly important trunk to the city,” said director of planning and public works Adam Homes, adding the new trunk will open nearly 2,300 acres of land for future residential, commercial and industrial development.
“It’s important well beyond just the fact that we will get a road fixed or that we’ll get a sanitary sewer somewhere, this is an investment in building a better Lloydminster and a better Canada,” said Mayor Mulligan. “It does give us the ability to develop the whole north and west side of the city.”
The City of Lloydminster will contribute the balance of the total estimated eligible costs for the sanitary sewer project up to $4.15 million.
“People don’t understand how much it costs to put in place the services that we take for granted - turning the water on, flushing our toilets - having those things at our doorstep. Putting the initial framework in place to be able to lay lots, businesses and housing is very, very expensive and we have to partner to get that money. Only about a third to a quarter of our budget actually comes from city taxes, the rest comes from partnerships with government.”
“The $14 million or $15 million worth of municipal taxes we collect fell well short of the $51 million that we need to spend this year,” said Mulligan. “Somewhere magically this money has to come and it’s through innovative partnerships and through positive support and hard work of our people in government that’s get us there.”
Snelgrove says the investments announced will bear economic opportunities, but more importantly will enhance residents’ quality of life and ensure their safety.
The MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster acknowledged work is required on Highway 17 within city limits, but said overlay work from Lloydminster north to Highway 45 was crucial and will heighten roadway safety.
“Everyone in Lloydminster knows how busy that highway is,” said Snelgrove. “All of us probably know someone who has either been in an accident very tragically or has been in near-misses. From purely a safety point of view this is very, very important.”
Road work on Highway 17 is well underway and is expected to be completed within the coming weeks. Mayor Mulligan says designs for the West Sanitary Sewer Trunk are complete, the project has been tendered and work will begin and carry on throughout the summer months.