Sod Turning Held To Replace Pumphouse Said To Be Leaking Like a Sieve

The issue of water security and the importance of municipal projects to ensure its’ continued uninterrupted supply was on tap as the official sod turning took place for a replacement to a pumphouse Mayor Fraser Tolmie termed as “leaking like a sieve” on Tuesday morning.

The ceremony took place in recognition of the $3,936,996 million contribution by the Province towards the $14,120,300 project to replace the High Service Pumphouse.

The Province’s share comes from Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) which provides funds of $150 million available on a per capita basis to municipalities quickly and allows them to select what capital project is the priority to spend the funds on.

The City recently borrowed $10 million to fund the project.

Sod Turning - From left to right Warren Michelson Moose Jaw North MLA, Premier Scott Moe, Mayor Fraser Tolmie and Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence

Premier Moe said MEEP would “give a boost to shovel ready projects” and “yes it will create jobs in municipalities across Saskatchewan” Jobs needed to stimulate the economy after it was shutdown due to the COVID - 19 pandemic.”

MEEP allows municipalities to direct the funds to areas they see as a high priority and the funds have been spent on a variety of projects.

“As I said we left it up to the municipalities to decide just how they were going to allocate the dollars from the MEEP program…and in Moose Jaw they are using some of the funding to pay for COVID - 19 protective barriers, a blower at the wastewater treatment plant and nearly $4 million is going towards a High Service Pumphouse,” he said. “Moose Jaw is planning for growth.”

Premier Moe typified the projects selected by the City of Moose Jaw as crucial to the safety of the community today and in to the future.

Fast tracking municipal revenue sharing and paying it all up front in June allowed municipalities to access the funds sooner when they needed it because if the pandemic.

In a bit of a campaign push Premier Moe mentioned revenue sharing to the City was up 142 percent since 2007, the year the SaskParty became the governing party. He touted the low numbers of those who have become infected with COVID - 19 as a group effort.

“The last six or seven months have been a trial for all of us. COVID - 19 has been an enormous challenge to our province and our nation. But together we are meeting that challenge…we are meeting the challenge because of what we are doing each and every day,” he said, adding “folks we are going to get through this. And we are going to get through this together.”

Last Hurrah For Warren Michelson As He Will Not Be Seeking Re-Election - Warren Michelson (right and Mayor Fraser Tolmie.

Mayor Fraser Tolmie said the MEEP funding centered around a necessary component of the City’s potable water infrastructure. The High Service Pumphouse pumps water for 60 percent of the City’s residents. The pumphouse provides water to 20,000 residents.

“Water is key to our community’s survival.”

The wastewater blower project is $879,000 and expected to start soon. COVID - 19 protective measure for plexi-glass safety barriers will receive $54,000 under the MEEP program.

“I believe we have spent more money in the last four years than in a great period of time. In partnership with the Province, Mr Premier I want to say thank you very much. To our MLAs and Coouncil I want to say thank you very much for today’s announcement,” Mayor Tolmie said.

In questioning from MJ Independent the Premier said he did not know the exact number of projects which were waterworks based across the province but it was a significant number.

“We didn’t want some of the municipalities backing out of some of the infrastructure plans they had…because of the services as you can see by the pump station but also because of the jobs created when that investment is made,” Premier Moe said.

He said they want to get the money out to municipalities to help “give them some confidence as the last six months have been uncertain times. Not just from a health perspective but for our business community from an economic perspective. I think it translates to uncertain times to all levels of government as well.”

Construction will start this fall on the High Level Pumphouse and is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2022.