The City of Dauphin’s capital plan is set for 2023 and Public Works crews will be busy throughout the community.
“It’s going to be a busy year again, so we’re hoping to hit the ground running in the next week or two,” director of Public Works and Operations Mike VanAlstyne said. “We’ll start with some of our sidewalk work, get going on that and everything should fall into place.”
More than $13.8 million in capital expenditures is included in the plan for 2023, ranging in scope from the design and construction of a south end drainage system to the purchase of a carpet cleaner.
“It’s about the same as we’ve done the past few years. We have a little bit more paving and road reconstruction this year than normal, but that just meant we were doing less than the previous year, but it’s because we had more utility work last year,” VanAlstyne said.
Coming in at a cost of $8,196,415, the south end drainage system accounts for the majority of the capital budget. While $46,415 of the costs will be borne by reserves, the remaining $8.15 million will be debentured.
Road work is also planned at a cost of $643,330. That involves road reconstruction projects on Aster Bay at a cost of $168,000, as well as Fourth Avenue Northeast from First Street to Second Street at a cost of $215,500 and 10th Avenue Southeast from Main Street to First Street at a cost of $158,000.
Milling and overlaying work is also planned for Second Street Northeast from Fourth Avenue to Mountain Road at a cost of $101,830.
Sidewalk work will take place along with roadwork projects, but there is additional sidewalk work planned outside the capital budget, VanAlstyne said, specifically on Main Street.
The east side of Main Street South will see the paving stones replaced with poured concrete from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue at a cost of $51,000; Eighth Avenue to 10th Avenue at a cost of $46,000 and a half block from Fourth Avenue to Fifth Avenue at a cost of $19,600.
A pedestrian crossing with flashers will be installed on Buchanon Avenue at Johnson Street at a cost of $15,000, which will be borne by reserves.
The project was originally slated to be completed last year at the intersection of Buchanon and Jackson Street.
“After talking with the province, they didn’t like it at the (original location) just with how busy the rail crossing is there,” VanAlstyne said.
“So we’re moving that a little bit to the west.”
Construction of a new back lane will take place in the west end between West Street and King Street at a cost of $23,000 which will be borne by reserves.
A design and refurbishment of the Buckwold Bridge over the Vermillion River on Fourth Avenue Southwest is also slated at a cost of $969,036, which will also be paid for out of reserves.
Several civic buildings will also see work done this year.
The Watson Arts Centre windows have already been replaced at a cost of $111,782, with the General Fund budget covering $60,891 and the remainder coming from reserves.
The building will also undergo some brick repointing work with the General Fund and reserves equally covering the $88,000 cost.
Finally, the Public Works Shop will see the addition of a lunchroom at a cost of $50,000 and exterior lighting will be installed at City Hall at a cost of $35,000. Both projects will be paid for out of reserves.
The Fire Department has a couple of capital purchases set for the year. The most substantial is a new pumper truck at a cost of $750,000 with $262,500 of the cost borne by the General Fund budget and $487,500 coming from reserves. The department will also receive a new hydraulic rescue tool valued at $6,000, paid for by the general fund.
A $10,000 upgrade is planned for the Diversion Centre at the waste disposal ground with the costs borne by reserves, while reserves will also pay the $12,000 required for a new computer server at City Hall. The cost of a new digital information kiosk will be split with the budget covering $7,500 and reserves the remaining $8,000.
An addition to the city’s statue inventory celebrating our Indigenous heritage will be erected at a cost of $107,000 with $100,000 coming from the General Fund and the remainder being drawn from reserves.
Several recreation-related capital expenditures are planned, such as additions to the Active Transportation system at a cost of $215,000 with $70,016 coming from the budget and the rest being borne by reserves.
As well, a new Parks lead hand truck will be purchased for $35,000, along with a new riding mower for $20,000, both of which will be covered by reserves.
Reserves will also cover completion of the toddler playground at Meadowlark Park for $20,000 a boiler and compressor replacement costing $103,558, the purchase of a carpet cleaner for $4,860 and lighting upgrades at Vermillion Park costing $23,000.
Machinery purchases planned for the year include a new garbage truck with a price tag of $405,521, a new Public Works truck for $60,000, refurbishment of the waste disposal site compactor for $153,399 and a new loader valued at $279,000. All will be paid for from reserves as will a new plasma cutter valued at $7,500.
Utility capital
On the Utility side of the budget water main renewal projects are planned for 10th Avenue Southwest from First Street to Second Street at a cost of $127,700 and Seventh Avenue Southwest from Main Street to First Street at a cost of $104,300.
Water main relining projects are set for Dunfield Avenue from Dorothy Street to Elmay Street at a cost of $100,000 and Main Street South from Ninth Avenue to Fourth Avenue at a cost of $305,000.
Sewer main relining is set for 10th Avenue Southeast from Main Street to First Street at a cost of $45,000 and Fourth Avenue Northeast from First Street to Second Street at a cost of $45,000.
Other utility capital projects include Manitoba Water Services Board supported upgrades in the amount of $177,452, the majority of which will be split evenly between the Utility Fund budget and reserves.
Lagoon dredging and design work is planned valued at $525,000 with $220,000 in the current budget and $305,000 being borne by reserves.
The purchase of a new flow metre at the booster station valued at $30,000, a new water metre reading device valued at $12,000, SCADA modem upgrades worth $15,000 and the purchase of a new trench cage worth $20,000 will all be paid for out of reserves.
