Yorkton Council decided Monday how it wants to see money from Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) invested in the city.
Lonnie Kaal - City Manager, with the City told Council they were obviously pleased by the provincial government announcement that the City of Yorkton would receive $2,348,953 to put towards capital projects.
This is significant (as the annual capital budget is $4,304,000 from the tax pie), and these additional funds from the Province are much appreciated, said Kaal, adding the new money is 鈥渕uch-appreciated.鈥�
The money does come with a caveat, that being the projects need to be completed by 2021.
However, there is no shortage of work that could be done, said Kaal, noting the City has a 鈥渟ignificant infrastructure gap鈥� that they are trying to close.
鈥淭he greatest impact and benefit to all citizens would be to put these funds towards streets and roads in conjunction with underground water main replacement where necessary,鈥� she said.
So it was a recommendation of Administration that the money be divided into three general areas;
*Overlay asphalt on roads $1,500,000
*Replacement of Water Mains $500,000
*Signage & Beautification $349,000
In terms of paving, when the $500,000 in the regular capital budget is added in, $2 million in work can be carried out, said Kaal.
鈥淲hen looking at what could be accomplished with a $2,000,000 spend, almost five km of streets (in total) would be re-paved in almost every neighbourhood of the City,鈥� she said.
With water mains it is a similar approach with the $500,000 from MEEP added to $600,000 the regular budget for a total of $1.1 million spend in 2021, offered Kaal.
The final $349,000 from MEEP, added to $150,000 from the Yorkton Business Improvement District (YBID), and $400,000 from the City鈥檚 2021 budget for a total of $900,000 for beautification of the southwest & southeast quadrants of land at the intersection of Broadway St. and Highway #9.
鈥淭he project would include signage, lighting, pathways and landscaping,鈥� said Kaal.
Council was unanimous in its support of the spending plan for the MEEP dollars.
