The 200 block of Cairns Ave. E. in Melfort has drainage issues, but some residents are worried the cost to install curbs, gutters, and sidewalks will be too high for their budget. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Local improvements planned

City of Melfort plans to start improvements in neighbourhood; some residents concerned over cost

Jul 5, 2024 | 1:21 PM

A neighbourhood in Melfort that has been prone to drainage problems could have the issue resolved, but some residents are concerned about the potential cost.

In a recent Governance and Priorities Committee meeting, the city’s director of public works presented potential local improvements for Parkview Place in 2025. The neighbourhood is in a low lying area, with the land sloping east toward the creek which can lead to serious drainage issues, especially in the spring.

Work to the area would include sidewalks, gutters, and paving on the 200 block of Cairns Ave. E., and paving on the 100 block of Cairns Ave. W., Babington Ave. W., Cairns Ave. E., and Babington Ave. E.

City Manager Adam Homes told northeastNOW the improvements have been in the works for a long time.

“Throughout recent years we’ve seen some curb and gutter (installations), sidewalks put in place, and some paving as well,” said Homes. Main St. was paved in the neighbourhood in 2021, and the 100 block of Cairns W. had curb, gutter, and sidewalk installations.

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“We want to continue that work; we want to see some more paving.”

Homes said the work would bring the area up to an urban standard along with the rest of the city, but acknowledged it will take several years for the improvements to be completed.

Residents fund the project through the Local Improvement Act via frontage charges, which they can pay in a lump sum or through their taxes over several years.

“The City does pick up some expenses, such as the infrastructure costs along the property flankage or a swale for drainage. Residents have a chance to petition against the local improvement,” said Homes.

And that’s where part of the problem lies. Not all residents are on board with the improvements. There are concerns from at least some of the residents in the area.

A resident that lives on the 200 block of Cairns Ave. W. approached northeastNOW earlier this year expressing frustration at the process and the length of time it has taken to deal with the issues in the area. That frustration remains.

“After meeting with (some) residents (Thursday) night, they are all very frustrated with (the) city’s response to our request for local improvement,” the resident said.

In 2022, residents had signed a petition to go ahead with the project and were under the impression it would be done within a certain length of time, and at a certain cost.

The process of local improvements generally takes place over three years. The first year is when the project is pitched and council considers it. The second year it’s added to the budget. It’s not until the third year after the initial request is made that a tender for the project is awarded and construction begins.

The City of Melfort was approached by residents to engage in local improvement regarding the construction of rolled curb, gutter and sidewalk on the 200 block of Cairns Ave. E. The city’s Uniform Rate Bylaw was updated in October 2023, increasing the cost of curb, gutter and sidewalk improvement to $550/m². That cost had been $340/m² in 2021. According to the city, the increase had been necessary to better reflect the current day costs they’d incur on improvement projects.

A project that would have cost just under $8300 in 2021 was now quoted as over $13,000 in 2023.

The city decided to poll the neighbourhood again in 2023 due to the significant cost of the project. Nine of 12 property owners responded in writing, with two votes in favour and seven against the project. Based on that response, the city decided not to proceed at that time.

“The petition was received in 2022 and the project was approved in the 2023 budget. Ultimately, it is the residents that decide if the project proceeds as per the Local Improvement Act,” said Homes.

The resident noted that the cost of potential improvements has gone up significantly since homeowners were first approached about them, and the lengthy process has led to those increased costs. They added they are concerned about drainage on the block and that their sump pumps run almost constantly.

Council is meeting on Monday and a further amendment to the Uniform Rate Bylaw is being put forth for approval. The amendment would seen an increase in curb, gutter, and sidewalk work from $550/m² to $575/m². For full depth pavement, the rate would skyrocket from $600/m² to $1100/m². The 200 block of Cairns Ave. E. would be slated for full depth paving and curb, gutter, and sidewalk installation as stated in the Governance and Priorities meeting held June 25.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK