Sewer line replacements planned
TIGNISH – The mayor of Tignish says his council is doing due diligence so that it can carry out a sewer line replacement project this year without residents incurring further sewer rate increases.
Allan McInnis said during council’s February meeting that residents will be incurring a sewer utility rate increase this year because of a major expansion and upgrade that was carried out on the town’s lagoon system last year, but the extent of that rate increase still has to be finalized by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission
He said the sewer line replacement work that’s needed this year will likely cost in the area of $725,000 to $750,000.
Council approved a call for tenders for the first phase of the project. Mayor McInnis said that phase will cost about $220,000 and can be paid for through the Gas Tax Fund.
Coun. Lloyd Gavin had questioned whether the town can afford the project.
McInnis said the gas tax fund will not be available for the next two phases, but he expressed confidence the town will be able to obtain federal and provincial infrastructure funds to cover about 75 per cent of the cost. If that happens, he said the town has reserves, as well as funds from grants and a GST rebate from the lagoon project, that should cover the town’s share.
“I’m awful proud of you guys for the work that went on here and for the decisions that were made in order to get that lagoon going, and (for) being as efficient as you were to regulate the dollars,” said the mayor. “It was a big project for a small town.”
Phase One, which council will be putting to tender immediately, involves the replacement of 180 meters of main line.
“There isn’t much point in having a $1.6 million lagoon down there if we can’t get the sewage to it,” Coun. Gavin said.
McInnis said tree roots had worked their way through the 65-year-old concrete pipe and caused a recent blockage.
Sewer utility chairman John McInnis put forward the motion to proceed with Phase One. The motion carried unanimously.