The City of Wetaskiwin engineering and development department has been active since the February 23, the date they presented the last report presented to council. The following are some of the highlights.
The City of Wetaskiwin purchased a parcel of land on the SE corner of the city now known as the South East Industrial Park Project. The intent is to have land available and ready for industrial development. Engineering prepared a detailed design to provide services to the property and sent it out for tender. A contract was awarded to Kran Construction. Unfortunately tenders came in at a much higher level than estimated by the city so the tender was awarded with a reduced scope to work. The city worked closely with Parkland Fertilizers to finalize their site design in the Industrial Park.
The marketing plan for the South Industrial Park has been presented to the city by WSP. The plan has been reviewed by the city. WSP will be updating the plan based on our comments and a final draft presented shortly.
Planning continues for the Main Street Phase 3 and 4 Project. The consultant will be facilitating a workshop with council for the 50th Avenue and 47 Street intersection treatments. The engineering department arranged a tour of existing roundabouts in Sherwood Park so council could ascertain their effectiveness.
The engineering department has been working with the consultant and contractor to find a solution for the chipping and spalling of the concrete tree pits on 50th Avenue (Main Street).
The water treatment plant sludge handling design continued through this period.
The 2014 tangible capital assets breakdown was provided to the finance department to complete year end. Improvements to the asset management system continued with the exploration of software to integrate asset management with operational needs
The Telus fiber optic upgrades continued with Telus planning to promote the upgrades by setting up a display model future home on the city’s recreation grounds for a week or two. The home will feature ways that fiber optics can enhance lifestyles.
Work continued on the Off-Site Levies Bylaw and the Utility Rate Bylaw .
The city is reviewing production of some information signs for locations such as the By-The-Lake Park and city center. They will be bringing forward a budget request for 2016.
Development
The following development permits have been issued since January 2015: Supreme International – industrial addition - $4,400,000 and cold storage facility - $196,500; Parkland Fertilizers – fertilizer storage shed/control building - $4,077,000; four aircraft hangars - $670,000; Manluk Industries – office addition - $3,900,000; Wetaskiwin Composite High School – modernization - $15,025,058; 103 Sign Permits and 15 Home Based Business Permits.
Points West Living is finalizing their development plan for a 76 unit seniors aging-in-place facility. It is anticipated construction will start in September.
The assessment complaint filing period closed on May 2 with two assessment complaints issued and one later withdrawn. It is anticipated that the assessment appeal hearing will be held in September.
Airport: Manager Byron King assumed responsibility for airport administration late April of this year. Tetratech was contracted to prepare a gap analysis for the Wetaskiwin Regional Airport with respect to the airport certification. Wetaskiwin Air Services (a.k.a. Absolute Aviation) was contracted to perform airside maintenance for a one-year trial period.
Waste management: Gas wells at landfill have been repaired/replaced and new ones installed. Recycled concrete and asphalt crushing is almost complete. This crushed, recycled material will be used as road base material in the South East Industrial Park project and the road rehabilitation project. Cardboard storage shed at recycle depot is complete and the new attendant building project will be started soon.
Parks: Parks staff have completed the following tasks: new dock at By-the-Lake Park; new power and fountain with lights; replaced lifted wooden boardwalk with cold mix; City/air cadets did a stream bed clean out; applied new mulch at city hall.
Pending projects include: repair of kids’ spray fountain at By-the-Lake Park; corner bed clean up at RCMP station; top soil and seed at the residence beside the school maintenance building; seed topsoil at Aboussafy Centre clean up; new cremains runner in Memorial cemetery; tree/shrub clean up at 47 Street railway crossing; tree/shrub cleanup at Memorial center.
Roads sidewalks and drainage: Street sweeping is completed. Sweeping maintenance is ongoing including clean-up of the sand left from crack sealing. The former Aboussafy Centre (“old pool”) site is waiting final seeding.
During “pothole” season, city crews filled 1,580 potholes from March 17 to June 1 and completed a large road repair on 45 St. and Mink Ranch Rd. Road markings such as arrows, crosswalks, stop bars and curbs are 90 per cent complete. All gravel roads are now dust controlled and others are graded weekly. Main street sidewalks and bollards have been washed.
Public Works staff completed some safety and equipment training. The gravel pads for both tree branch drop off and the new shed at the recycling depot have been completed. Crack sealing of Priority 3 areas (residential) approaching 50 per cent completion.
Pending projects include: Peace Hills Park bridge removal and culvert installation; landfill entrance road re-build, including drainage and widening; replacement of south end truck route sign, including new footing; culvert installation on 61 St. /46 Ave.(Airport); adding gravel to alleys requiring such; road closures for events: June 20, July 1, July 11 and September 13 and partial road re-construction on 62 St. (Evergreen Estates) including groundwater management.