Council finds funds to address West Main flooding

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

In an effort to prevent flooding in the West Main Street area of town this winter or spring, Kentville council has voted in favour of additional funding to complete a dyke project and install pumping stations.

At a recent council advisory committee (CAC) meeting, Engineering and Public Works director Hal Henderson said a report from consulting engineers Hiltz and Seamone identified cost overruns with some aspects of the construction project. He said $450,000 had been approved in the 2008-2009 budget for the project, but the latest estimate, dated Sept. 15, indicated that $328,450 had been expended already.

Henderson said this amount included $181,250 for new concrete pipe and additional structures; topsoil, seeding and armour rock would amount to $80,000; and the installation of a small dyke behind the Great Valley Juice plant would cost $40,000. The extension of power to the site would cost $40,000 and the pumps and electrical work would amount to $150,000.

The consultant engineers now estimate the cost of the dyke at $665,650. However, Henderson said that with engineering fees and HST, the actual amount would be close to $750,000, leaving a shortfall of $300,000.

CAC recommended council approval of an additional $300,000 in the 2008-2009 capital works budget to allow for the completion of the dyke and the electrical system and pumps. Council approved the recommendation at the Wednesday, Oct. 8 session. “It looks like a massive overexpenditure, but we didn’t plan to go ahead with the pumps this year,” said then councillor Dennis Kehoe, pointing out the pumps represent a $150,000 expense alone.

Mayor Dave Corkum said they would have put the pumps in next year but, by doing so earlier, it could help in the event of another major flooding incident. “It would be better to help people on that end of town prior to,” Corkum said.

Where’s the money coming from?

Councillor Nola Folker Hill asked where the money would come from. Chief Administrative Officer Keith Robicheau said that although federal gas tax funding would cover the cost of the project in the long run, it would be funded temporarily through a temporary borrowing resolution (TBR). He said, hopefully, no long-term borrowing would be necessary.

Following the CAC meeting where the recommendation to council was approved, West Main Street resident Jocelyn Nicholson said it was good news for homeowners on the street.

Nicholson said the residents would be getting clarification as to whether they are eligible for relief funding if they flood this winter or spring. “We hope the town will come up with a contingency plan for us during the land development,” she said, pointing out that West Main residents feel the town should have taken a few mitigating actions before connecting the drainage from nearby development on the former CP Rail lands into their culvert.

Nicholson said all the talk of the West Main Street residents knowing they bought on a flood plain is tiring. In 1927, during a storm that resulted in flooding across the Valley, including the east end of Kentville and the Cornwallis River bridge area, West Main Street did not flood. She said continued development has created the flooding issues for residents on the street.

County council weighs in

Kings County council has passed a motion to have a full staff report prepared on the Town of Kentville’s proposed dyke and pumping station project to help prevent future flooding in the vicinity of West Main Street and the former CP Rail land, and to have someone from the town provide a briefing to county councillors.

Councillor Madonnna Spinazola pointed out at the beginning of the Tuesday, Oct. 7 county council session that no presentation has been made to county councillors on the issue. Spinazola, who represents the nearby community of Meadowview, said she had met with concerned residents there the night before and told them she would make a request for the presentation from the town. It occurred Oct. 21.

Kings County Chief Administrative Officer Brian Smith said county staff had been briefed on the project by the town and could prepare a report for councillors.