KENTVILLE, N.S. — The clock is ticking as far as a River Street flood mitigation project is concerned.
An Oct. 11 report acting chief administrative officer Debra Crowell prepared for the Town of Kentville’s council advisory committee stresses the importance of the project getting underway at the start of next month.
“It is imperative that this project begin construction by the first of November, or the window for building will close due to inclement weather,” the report reads.
“Should this happen, the town will likely lose the funding from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, as this project has already been carried over for two years.”
The federal funding would cover half of the $175,000 project, accounting for $87,500.
ABLE Engineering proposed the option of a river wall as a fix that would be “less intrusive to the backyards of the properties concerned” in September, Crowell’s report states.
Council voted in favour of awarding the contract for the work to Howard Little Excavating, the low bidder, at an Oct. 15 council advisory committee, but there’s more to be done before the project gets the greenlight.
“The town requires permission from all property owners to have access to their lands to construct the wall. Without 100 per cent participation, the project cannot move forward,” Crowell explained via email Oct. 17.
Four property owners participated in a meeting the Town of Kentville hosted Oct. 16.
“The town’s engineer explained the process in detail and reviewed each property on the engineered drawing. To date, two property owners have given permission,” said Crowell.
“It is unlikely that the project will be carried forward to the 2020/2021 capital investment plan due to the loss of external funding.”
