Vegreville Town Council Expected to Review Special Report

Vegreville Town Council Expected to Review Special Report

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Vegreville town council is expected to review a special report regarding flooding and drainage issues at its legislative committee meeting on August 18.

This comes after Mayor Tim MacPhee directed Dale Lefebvre, Infrastructure, Planning & Development Director, to compile information during his report to council at the July 21 legislative committee meeting.

“With the water levels in town and some of the situations we’re getting in our alleys, I think that you could get your staff to put some information together. I know a few years ago you brought stuff to a previous council, where we were with our alleys, and what it would cost to bring some of them back. And in the meantime, since we’ve looked at those numbers, we’ve had other problems that got in the way, the 50 Street sewer replacement which wasn’t even on our radar, and a few other things.

I’m not saying we’re going to put a bunch of money in at budget time, but I think that it’s time this council took a look at what our problems are, and what numbers would be to fix it, and maybe put a plan together.”

During council’s roundtable discussion at the July 14 legislative committee meeting Coun. Dave Berry said flooding has been reported in some residents backyards because the back alley is higher than their backyards and the water can’t drain away from their property.

Berry said it has been an issue with residents in the area immediately north of Pysanka Park for many years, and the town has some responsibility to deal with the issue.

MacPhee said the town has never raised the alley higher than anybody’s property.

“I have driven the alley and I can see they do have a problem in that area, and I think I would like to see if we can have a discussion with public works to see if there’s any way of rectifying the situation, getting the water to flow so it doesn’t enter the backyards of these peoples’ residences.” He reiterated his desire to find a resolution on the issue.

Because council’s meeting agenda is not finalized until the day prior to a meeting, the status of the report remains to be tentative at this point.