Council greenlights funding transfer to Lagoons Headworks upgrades project

Cranbrook City Council approved a $220,000 budget transfer Monday (Nov. 2) to help complete the City’s wastewater treatment upgrades.

The money will come from the lagoon desludging budget to fund the final phase of a multi-year project that began in 2019 with a successful $7.4-million grant application.

Work completed so far has extended the life and capacity of the sewage lagoons and improved treatment.

The final phase includes two new sewage screeners and related electrical and mechanical equipment.

The City relies on one aging screener and has no backup when it is out of service. The new equipment will help the City meet provincial operating permit requirements and is expected to cost less to operate.

Rising costs and supply chain challenges have strained the project budget. City staff, consultant McElhanney and contractor Filtrum reduced the proposed work from $2.3 million to $1.65 million while retaining the project’s main goals.

After the time needed to secure funding, the contractor raised its price to $1.724 million, excluding GST.

The transfer will cover a $48,992 funding shortfall and provide $171,008 for unexpected costs. Any unused money will return to the sewer program when the project is complete.

A grant deadline extension to the end of 2027 is being finalized. The screeners must be ordered promptly because delivery takes about six months.

To learn more about the project, click here.