Final berm phase gets OK

One of the final phases of a 2014 plan to build berms in Medicine Hat will proceed this spring after city administrators and council approved a $3.24-million contract to build Harlow Phase II, a 350-metre extension between the South Saskatchewan River and 13 houses situated on Finlay Court, Link Court and two avenue stubbs.

City planners say the move will also better protect against wraparound flooding behind an existing berm that stretches the length of Harris Street.

It will also allow the city to decommission the River Heights Lift Station sewage lift station and save money as planned changes to the system are rerouted.

Local firm MJB Enterprises submitted the lowest bid among seven proposals received by the Nov. 19 deadline. Other bids ranged from a non-compliant bid of $3.62 million to $4.15 million.

Tree clearing would precede in January and the project has a tentative completion date in August 2021.

When completed, the only outstanding project in the

2014 berm plan to protect against levels seen in the 2013 flood would be the joining of berm sections on either side of Industrial Avenue in the Flats.

That project was approved by council and administrators several years ago, but has not proceeded.

Spending next year in Harlow will bring the city’s cumulative flood protection work to $33.5 million, including infrastructure grants from other levels of government, according to documents presented alongside the tender award.

Meeting cancelled

Wednesday’s municipal planning commission meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum the day before Christmas Eve.

The only item on the agenda was a final building proposal for a project on

Somerset Road, which is now set to be taken up at the commission’s next planned meeting date on Jan. 13.

A zoning change for Nos. 44 and 46 on Somerset Road was approved by council last month allowing the developer to plan for a four-unit duplex on lots previously designated as low-density residential.

Neighbours and council members expressed some concern about the final plan and appearance of the structure, while planning office officials stated that the final plan could return before the commission.