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The 100 block of McKendry Ave. E. is due to be repaired in 2025. (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW Staff)
Melfort assets

Review reveals aging, deteriorating assets in Melfort

Feb 21, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The City of Melfort has released the results of an Asset Condition Summary.

The information was prepared as a supplement for the 2024 budget discussions that wrapped up on Tuesday.

The report was prepared by Kalyna Cipywnyk, municipal project manager and engineer-in-training. It looked at the city’s facilities and buildings, underground infrastructure like watermains, sewers, and storm sewer pipes, equipment, machinery and the city’s fleet, and pathways, roadways, and sidewalks.

Public Works Director Lydia Steffen said the review was undertaken in an effort to try to be proactive through asset management, instead of reactive.

“This type of data allows council to be effective participants in the planning and decision-making process. They are able to look at the facts and make evidence-based and informed decisions about what is in the best interest of the community overall,” Steffen told northeastNOW.

Overall, the study found much of the city’s assets and infrastructure are in very poor condition, described as the operating asset having less than 10 per cent of its expected service life remaining.

Steffen said the city can expect increases in maintenance and operating costs, along with major increases for renewal and replacement costs in the future. She said the city deals with the reality of aging infrastructure on a daily basis, and the results of the report were not a surprise.

“Melfort is not alone. Most municipalities face significant infrastructure backlogs. This is the accrued financial investment needed in the short-term to bring an asset to a state of good repair,” explained Steffen.

According to Steffen, balancing future growth, aging infrastructure, and potential service disruption against the limited government funding and grants requires diligence.

The city has created a Five-Year Capital Plan, which deals with fleet and equipment, parks and buildings, transportation and utility networks, land development, and waste services.

Among the capital investments this year will be the design and construction of a new landfill, a playground renewal at Maude Burke Park, and Phase 2 of the MUCC/Reynolds School traffic safety initiative. Facility upgrades, street and sidewalk renewals, and required purchase of vehicles and equipment will also take place this year.

The report can be seen here as Asset Condition Summary under 3.1.1 Appendices to the 2024 Capital and Operating Budget.

cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

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