“Moose Jaw's Biggest Secret”
Story and Photos By Robert Thomas
Settling is to blame for the City re-doing sections of sewer, service connections plus sections of curb, gutters and sidewalk on a South Hill street. Work which will cost taxpayers $427,000 plus taxes.
Described by one resident, who asked not to be named as the company he works for does contract work for the City, as “Moose Jaw's biggest secret” the City of Moose Jaw is re-doing some of the work it did about a decade ago on Bringham Road.
MJ Independent agreed to the resident's anonymity request to protect their employment.
Holes cut in the roadway to allow replacement of service connections - MJ Independent photo
It’s a suggestion the City of Moose Jaw disputes. The work was being completed right out in the open with news releases as well as approval in the 2022 Budget.
“This project was included in the 2022 Budget, and we advised residents in advance of the necessary work, in addition to issuing a media release and posting information on the City’s website,” the City wrote in response to submitted questions.
A May 16, 2022 City of Moose Jaw news release states “KMS Construction, on behalf of the City of Moose Jaw, will perform required sanitary sewer main and service spot repair work on Brigham Road. This is necessary work to ensure the stable delivery of sanitary sewer service to Brigham Road residents.”
A section of sidewalk - initially installed in 2013 - was replaced as part of the project - MJ Independent photo
Asked why the work was being done the City responded it was due to settling and issues developing from that settling.
“Some settling has occurred since the original install that we felt was important to address before more significant issues developed,” the City wrote in response to why the work was being done.
The work entails “replacements of sections of sanitary services and sanitary main to rectify deficiencies – sags in the lines,” the City said in their response.
Settling can occur in different ways. It can be both natural settling due to the underlying soil structure or be because of improper compaction when the ground is disturbed during the installation of infrastructure for instance.
The cost of the repair work is $427,000 before taxes and paid for by the City of Moose Jaw.
It is something the resident points out should not have happened in just “seven or eight years in a new neighbourhood”.
The resident was happy to see the City fix what he saw as their “error’ but went on to state it is just “another waste of taxpayer’s dollars…it should have been done right from the beginning.”
The original underground work on Bringham Road was completed in 2012 and the original above ground work in 2013. All of the work was done by the City of Moose Jaw.
“This is just hiding somebody’s major f””” up,” the resident claimed.
The City did not supply what the original work cost but under City policy the cost for infrastructure is paid for as part of the lot price.
It needs to be noted the City of Moose Jaw does have a stated policy that sewer service connections are the financial responsibility of the property owner from the main line to the home. The policy for ownership of waterlines is the property owner owns and is responsible from the property line to the home.
In one case there was a sewer backup into one resident’s home with the problem caught in two others before there was a sewer backup, the resident stated.
Pile of construction material while the work on Bringham Road was underway - MJ Independent photo
Asked about property owners who may have claims due to the settling and the City’s infrastructure installation the City advises there is a claims process for that.
“If any resident feels the City of Moose Jaw has by its negligence caused damage to their property they can file a claim by writing a letter to City Comptroller. Full details on filing a claim can be found on the City’s website: https://moosejaw.ca/liability-claims/ “ the City responded.
The question was asked “If the City made a mistake in the installation or signing off the work - I believe they need a City inspection before proceeding should not the City ethically and morally help this homeowner out?”
“This will be guided by the claims process,” the City responded.
Asked if there were other streets that may have the same problem as Bringham Road the City responded “Not that we are aware of.”