Some culverts in Battleford need work, but where funding should come from was an issue at last week’s town council meeting.
Some residences in Battleford, such as in West Park, have culverts. Some culverts date back to the 1970s and need to be replaced, according to a report Chief Administrative Officer John Enns-Wind presented to council.
The town doesn’t have a policy regarding culverts, and Enns-Wind said at the council meeting there were no precedents or policies in the town to guide administration.
Administration’s proposed policy recommended property owners be “responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of culverts when needed.” The town would determine when culverts would need repairing and replacing.
Some municipalities have landowners pay for the culverts, while municipalities pay for such work in other jurisdictions, Enns-Wind told council.
The relevant work on culverts could cost property owners between $900 and $1,200, Enns-Wind said.
Council was skeptical of making landowners pay.
“I just find it hard to say ‘Mrs. Smith … the way the West Park developer designed this is going to cost you $1,200,’” Councillor Kevin Russell said.
Councillor Doug Laing raised the concern of the town determining a culvert needed replacing, but the property owner refusing to pay for it.
Mayor Ames Leslie said he wasn’t in favour of the town paying 100 per cent of costs, neither was he in favour of property owners paying 100 per cent.
Around the table, the proposal was compared to a “tax on a tax.” One suggestion included cost sharing.
Ultimately, council rejected the policy in its proposed form.
Enns-Wind is to return with a different proposed policy at a later date.
