When it comes to finalizing projects and associated costs with respect to flood damages to the Town of Cochrane, senior staff has made a list and is checking it twice.
“Over $1.7 million is an estimation of claims to be submitted to the (provincial) government,” said Cochrane Fire Chief Mac deBeaudrap.
“We’re currently awaiting insurance for four of the projects we’ve been working on and then we will make a claim to the government for the remaining amount.”
Suzanne Gaida, senior manager of community services, presented an update to council on Nov. 22 of the 15 flood-related projects the town staff is currently working on.
Gaida has taken the lead on the flood-affected Cochrane pathways. The ‘Lagoon Pathway Project’ has been repaired and a claim is in the process of being filed; the ‘Riverview South Pathway Project’, ‘Riverview West Pathway Project’ and ‘Riverside Pathway Project’ will be included in the development of the Riverside Park.
Two-million dollars from a Municipal Sustainability Initiative grant in 2012 and flood-recovery money from the province will be used for the development of Riverside Park – delayed until 2014 due to the June 20 flood.
Gaida said the delay caused by the flood has allowed for a project re-design to help mitigate future flood damage.
“We’re finalizing everything with our insurer and once we get that, we will be looking at applying for all the assistance we can get from the province and hopefully none of this will come out of the tax base,” said Gaida, adding that all the pathway projects are insured, a decision made by the town following the 2005 flood damages.
The town’s pathways are insured for a total of $860,290, with a deductible of $25,000; not all the pathways were damaged, so the town will not see the full amount.
The ‘Griffin Underpass Project’, which includes the erosion of the pathway at the north end of the Griffin Underpass has been repaired in-house; Gaida said this project would be upgraded to prevent future damage resulting from flooding.
The ‘Pedestrian Trail Project’ (under and west of the Highway 22 bridge) is currently being redesigned and will be included in the Riverside Park development.
A government-funded study commencing in January will look at the ‘Bow Meadows Pedestrian Trail Project’. Gaida said this includes looking at a wide range of erosion-control and flood-mitigation techniques as a more long-term solution.
“It’s not the first time (this trail) has washed away,” explained Gaida, adding that there are now permanent changes to this section of the Jumping Pound Creek, due to the flood, which will need to be accounted for.
The ‘Water Intake Project’ (displaced gravel in the area of the Bow River below the Water Treatment Plant) is currently in the works.
“Last weekend, gravel was removed from the intake area and over the next few days the trucks will be removing the material, which will be stored and used for the Riverside Park project,” said Gaida.
Projects completed and claims that have been filed include the ‘Emergency Operations Project’, which encompasses all the additional costs incurred by the town as a result of the June 20 flood; the ‘Sinkhole Project’ – the caving-in of the street at 196 Sunset Close; the ‘Boat Launch Area Project’, where a large amount of gravel and silt has been removed from the boat launch area at the Bow River on the east side of the Highway 22 bridge; and, the ‘Water Treatment Plant Pathway Bridge Project’, which included fixing the altered alignment and grade of the pedestrian bridge.
The ‘Highway 1A Underpass Pedestrian Trail Project’ — where the trail eroded during the heavy rain and runoff — has been repaired in-house; a claim has not yet been filed.
The ‘GlenEagles Boulevard Slump Project’ is not a project being addressed at this time, according to deBeaudrap. The slough created in this area during the heavy June rainfall is not bad enough to be repaired yet, but will continue to be monitored until spring; the estimated cost to repair, if needed, is $125,000.
The ‘Drainage Swale Undermining Project’ (behind #35 Heritage Hill) has been identified as a developer cost and the town will not be seeking funding for this.
Council unanimously accepted Gaida’s presentation as information on the town’s strategic planning.
