City Says Work Necessary - Money Saved - Others Not So Sure....
By Robert Thomas
Depending on who you talk to the cast iron replacement work on the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW was necessary or it was a complete waste of money and unnecessary work due to inadequate City records.
The conflicting views have been circulating in the community after a portion of the center of the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW was cut, trenched out and the trenched out material replaced in what appeared to be a block that had no cast iron water main running down it.
Despite what it may have looked like the actual work done on the street was not only necessary but in fact saved money the City says in responses to questions asked by MJ Independent.
MJ Independent asked the questions after receiving tips from residents and confidential sources within the City about the work.
The opening cut along the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW - MJ Independent photo
In an email response the City was asked if it was true the originally scheduled cast iron was not replaced, as originally announced because the water main was not cast iron, is something the City said in fact was true.
“It is true, the 1300 block was originally planned to replace a partial block of cast iron based upon our records. Prior to digging trenches, pits were dug to confirm materials at 3 locations. We were pleased to find that the pipe was PVC and did not need replacement. Many times we are surprised at what we find underground but in this circumstance it was good news. The City will realize a cost savings from not having to replace pipe at this location but we don’t know that figure at this time,” the City responded.
It needs to be noted the City of Moose Jaw has experienced several difficulties in the past by not knowing exactly what lies underground.
Examples of troubles occurring due to inaccurate or no records are the former South Hill Kentucky Fried Chicken and Moose Jaw Civic Centre properties.
The lack of accurate records of exactly what is underground is also a major contention involving a now long running legal dispute with Ungar Construction for work they did on High Street West as part of Phase Two of the cast iron water main replacement program.
The exact date of when the PVC water main was installed on the block by the City is unknown.
“At this time we do not have the installation date of the pvc pipe,” the City responded in the email.
MJ Independent asked if the reason why the work done was due to inaccurate records and if the City had been relying on a retired employee to come in and point out where work had been done in the past. The City acknowledged records from the past can be unreliable.
“Records from the past can be unreliable and we now hydrovac locations to confirm materials when we are in doubt. This is an expanding part of both our design and construction processes,” the City responded.
A hydrovac is a piece of equipment that uses water to create an opening in soil to allow viewing of what is underground. The process is commonly called daylighting.
A confidential source, who use to work for the City, told MJ Independent that in the past note keeping of work by the City was often hap hazard with records often written down on scraps of paper, napkins or confined to a person’s memory on occasion.
The City has spent large sums of money in the last few years to geolocate existing infrastructure.
Unused water main pipe sits at the northern end of the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW - MJ Independent photo
Despite the claims to the contrary the City contends the work on the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW is actually a good news story and saved the City money.
“The work that was completed was necessary to repair the valves and repave the street. This is a good news story as it will provide savings to the contract that can will be used for another block. It’s too soon to know the exact dollar figure,” the City responded.
“Watermains on 1st Avenue NW were replaced up to and including the Macdonald St. intersection, including valves. The mid-block valve on 1300 block was repaired and it now has PVC waterlines and functioning valves. This repair was necessary and, regardless of type of pipe, would have required an excavation to repair.”
The practice of using a hydrovac when the City is unsure exactly what is underground will continue in the future.
‘Within the limits of resources and cost, hydrovac and material identification will continue to be practiced. As we continue to replace cast iron, our records improve and our unknowns decrease,” the email response stated.
The City plans to repave the top section of the 1300 block of 1st Avenue NW in the future. The present newer paving on the block was paid for in an agreement with Canadian Tire. The retailer paid for the road surface repairs to allow better access to their former store.
ADDED NOTE - In response to MJ Independent’s questions from last week on this issue the City of Moose Jaw issued a special press release on Monday. See the full press release below.
