Repaving a stretch of road is among a municipality's costliest capital expenditures.
Depending on the scope of such a project, new asphalt can easily cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
Numerous Sundre as well as surrounding area residents recently expressed their growing frustration with the condition of Centre Street North between Ninth and 12th avenues, which over the span of more than 10 years has been allowed to deteriorate drastically.
While plenty of people were commenting through social media about the problems they have with that stretch of road, eight were actually able to attend council's Sept. 19 meeting to present officials with a lengthy list of concerns. While the road's condition was among the primary worries shared — with some people saying they drive around the potholes toward oncoming traffic if safe to do so — others wondered why one of the highest-taxed parts of Sundre had such a rough access road that has been neglected for more than a decade.
These concerns certainly ring with an element of legitimacy. The road has unquestionably become increasingly terrible and desperately needs to be repaved.
But this fact is not lost on council.
The Town of Sundre only assumed responsibility for the road following an annexation in 2010. Before that, it was completely out of local officials' hands, so they could be cut some slack in that regard.
On a related tangent, there are also often concerns expressed about Main Avenue, but local officials have no jurisdiction on any decisions in terms of repairs made on that road since it actually belongs to the province.
Switching gears back to Centre Street North, officials have had since the annexation about six years to address the crumbling section of Centre Street North. However, this repair is far from being the only capital project under consideration of the current council, which wasn't even in office when the annexation occurred.
Combine that with an extended economic slowdown and an almost $1 million shortfall in the budget that had to be made up for, and officials are increasingly finding themselves having to squeeze as much potential as possible out of every penny.
To be sure, that means not rushing recklessly into major repairs and instead very carefully considering each step.
Council does have a plan for Centre Street North, but it is not limited only to repaving the surface of the road. Underground services, such as wastewater pipes, could potentially need to be upgraded depending on the plan to improve the sewage treatment lagoon — a project that itself will cost at least $7 million, said Mayor Terry Leslie during council's Sept. 19 meeting.
“They're all tied together. We don't fix a road without dealing with all of the aging pipe and that type of thing under the ground.”
It's not as though members of council are plotting in secret from some diabolical hidden underground lair ways to delay such crucial projects until the community lies in ruins — they live here as well and are just as invested in Sundre as anyone else who calls this town home.
Quite the opposite — council is well aware of the situation, but it certainly can't hurt for the community to attend an upcoming public open house to discuss capital project priorities. Residents are welcome and encouraged to be there on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the town chambers.
“You have an opportunity to come back during budget deliberations,” the mayor said, encouraging people to return with their concerns.
“That will give council the public's expectations and priorities. So we need you to come to that meeting.”
— Simon Ducatel, editor
