2014 capital budget tabled

The proposed 2014 capital budget is focused on a variety of planned public works projects and new equipment purchases for the town.  

At the Nov. 25 town council meeting, director of corporate services Dale Culler presented the proposed document to council, detailing proposed capital expenditures for 2014.

Still subject to change and the official endorsement of council, the proposed 2014 capital budget including specific budget items will be deliberated by council and administration in a series of upcoming meetings prior to final approval.

Highlights of the proposed 2014 capital budget include $3,462,500 in engineering structure projects, consisting of the annual concrete program, completion of the downtown bulb-out project, the Eureka development and intersection project, and the completion of the re-located bulk water loading station replacement project.

Each “even numbered” year the town typically undertakes rehabilitation and replacement of existing concrete sidewalk, curbs and gutters, drainage swales and asphalt road surfaces. Each “odd numbered” year, the town typically undertakes a larger roads reconstruction project.

Building projects include $380,000 for repair and maintenance work on the old court house, old library and old police station complex, as well as the construction of a snow melt pit at the arena.

Machinery and equipment projects include $1,191,500 for additional software products that will improve efficiency in tracking and costing workflow and purchases, dispatch software, IT hardware upgrades and life cycle replacement, and operations equipment life cycle replacement.

Land improvement projects include $120,000 for cemetery row “k” development, cenotaph restoration and upgrades, and parks and sports fields bench and bleacher improvements.

Vehicles projects include $1,005,540 for life cycle replacement for both light and heavy duty trucks, and additional discussion concerning an amount carried forward for a hydro-vac truck that had originally been proposed in 2013, as well as an exact need for solid waste  trucks.

The total capital budget for 2014 amounts to $6,159,540, which reflects a capital carry forward from 2013 of $800,000.