Town council has passed its capital budget for 2018, after much discussion on what projects should be undertaken this year.
"I think the highlight is originally the budget when it was presented to committee we didn't have the three crescents off of Stewart Drive included in it," said Mayor Brad Mapes.
However, adjustments to the budget – basically some other projects put off to future years – allocated $1.6-million worth of water and sewer work to be done this year on Mansell, Dessy and Morin Crescents as the beginning of a two-year project that will total $2.3 million and include road resurfacing.
"I inquired about how we could try and put the three crescents back on board and gave them options of how we could manage our capital budget, and I'm glad that administration put it forward to council and I'm glad that council approved to go forward with it because I think the key is that we need to keep moving forward our community," said Mapes.
The mayor said there are some other good capital projects happening, including $1.6 million to finish water and sewer and road work on Wright Crescent and $1.7 million for water and sewer upgrades on Courtoreille Street, including road and sidewalk work.
However, some projects have been put off to coming years.
An allocation of $300,000 for the demolition of the old town hall/fire hall has been deferred for two years, drainage work on Vale Island ($75,000) and in the Industrial Area ($75,000) has been deferred for a year, and $165,000 for demolition of lift station #1 has also been deferred for a year.
Funding of $180,000 for walkway work on the Super A service road was removed from the budget, and the town will seek financial support for the project from the GNWT.
Coun. Vince McKay objected to delaying demolition of the old town hall/fire hall.
"It's condemned," he said of the building, which was closed in July 2014 because of air quality problems. "I would like to see us keep that budgeted amount on there so that we could deal with it."
Judy Goucher, the town's senior administrative officer, noted an options paper will be prepared on what could be done with the building and potential future options for replacing the town hall.
"That will still come before council this year and there will be opportunity coming out of that options paper review for council to approve a project once we have more specifics about where you want administration to go in terms of that project," Goucher said.
Deputy Mayor Donna Lee Jungkind said there is still a lot of work to do to get information for council.
"It's just not realistic for it to happen this year," she said of possible demolition.
Coun. Kandis Jameson also noted the building is not an eyesore and not a danger to the public.
Coun. Keith Dohey questioned deferring for a year drainage work in Old Town and the Industrial Area.
Dohey asked if the town has some kind of a study by a hydrologist or an engineer on what to do about the drainage problems, and if there is a study, whether it is being followed.
If there is no study, the councillor said one should be done, instead of deferring the funding allocation.
The capital budget did not pass unanimously. McKay and Dohey voted against the motion.
Among the other allocations in the budget are $75,500 to complete downtown beautification work started in 2017, $125,000 for sewer lagoon upgrades and $32,000 to complete work on the launch area and install a picnic shelter at Porritt Landing.