WESTLOCK COUNTY – The infrastructure in Westlock County’s hamlets is aging and will need millions in upgrades, Jarrad Elliot of Select Engineering told council.
“We evaluated nine hamlets,” said Elliot. “It would take $6 million to upgrade all the roads to satisfactory condition."
The nine hamlets in Westlock County include Busby, Pickardville, Pibroch, Dapp, Jarvie, Fawcett, Vimy, Nestow and Tawatinaw.
In addition, if council wanted to look at fire support that would be approximately another $40 million.
Coun. Sherri Provencal, during council’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Nov. 26, asked Elliot if it’s better for the county to use asphalt or gravel on some roads in the hamlets and asked why the cost of asphalt is getting so expensive.
Elliot said it was a combination of factors, including a high demand in Alberta right now for the oil needed for asphalt, as well as skyrocketing costs for trucking and labour.
Coun. Stuart Fox-Robinson asked that Select Engineering provide the written report to council.
Westlock County Chief Administrative Officer Tony Kulbisky said the information from the engineering report will be a starting point for council and administration will look at available grants once they have the full report.
Reeve Christine Wiese said it would be a long-term project.
“Obviously it’s not a one year plan,” she said.
Council accepted the verbal engineering report as information.
