At its June 10 meeting, council voted to pull funding from the county’s general operating reserve to upgrade infrastructure along Botha’s Railway (50th) Avenue.
The decision comes after years of standing water backing up onto residential lots along the community’s northern railway line.
Administration noted the subdivision was already planned when the county absorbed the former village in 2017.
While the county initially believed servicing was in place, subsequent grading reviews discovered the land elevations were inadequate for proper water drainage.
As the area eliminates the option for standard drainage ditches, the county will install a specialized system of drop inlets and culverts.
The gravity-fed design is modeled after a design previously used by the county in Gadsby.
A small portion of 49th Street will also be replaced as part of the construction.
The $250,000 project allocates $85,000 for county-supplied materials and in-house fabrication, while the remaining $165,000 will cover external contracted construction, installation and grading work.
The infrastructure headache has prompted broader financial concerns for the municipality.
The county has exhausted the provincial transition grant funding it received after taking over Botha, having already spent those reserves to replace three full streets of failing sewer lines.
The County of Stettler council has greenlit a stormwater infrastructure project to fix drainage issues in Botha.
At its June 10 meeting, council voted to pull funding from the county’s general operating reserve to upgrade infrastructure along Botha’s Railway (50th) Avenue.
The decision comes after years of standing water backing up onto residential lots along the community’s northern railway line.
Administration noted the subdivision was already planned when the county absorbed the former village in 2017.
While the county initially believed servicing was in place, subsequent grading reviews discovered the land elevations were inadequate for proper water drainage.
As the area eliminates the option for standard drainage ditches, the county will install a specialized system of drop inlets and culverts.
The gravity-fed design is modeled after a design previously used by the county in Gadsby.
A small portion of 49th Street will also be replaced as part of the construction.
The $250,000 project allocates $85,000 for county-supplied materials and in-house fabrication, while the remaining $165,000 will cover external contracted construction, installation and grading work.
The infrastructure headache has prompted broader financial concerns for the municipality.
The county has exhausted the provincial transition grant funding it received after taking over Botha, having already spent those reserves to replace three full streets of failing sewer lines.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
