By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

51 avenue

$3.2 million redevelopment project gets tentative go-ahead from Ponoka town council

Nov 24, 2021 | 10:25 AM

Ponoka is looking to move ahead on a major redevelopment project.

The rehabilitation of 51 Avenue was supposed to take place this year, but supply issues and cost increases were cause for delay.

The project will replace aging infrastructure which has reached the end of its life-cycle, including:

-Replacing underground water, sanitary sewer and storm water infrastructure
-Repaving 51 Avenue, and replacing and upgrading sidewalks
-Rehabilitation and design improvements to the municipal parking lot on the south side of 51 Avenue
-Beautifying the streetscape with landscaping (trees, shrubs and flowers), new lighting and street furniture
-Repainting crosswalks and lines
-Installing wayfinding signage.

The project costs $3.2 million, with $1.7 planned to be borrowed by the Town. The remainder would come from the provincial MSI grant.

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Final approval of dollars will happen during budget talks in the spring. However, in order to put a new call for tenders out in January, first reading of the borrowing bylaw had to be passed this week.

“Once those tenders are received, council will decide based on actual project costs for 2022 whether the project will go ahead next year,” said CAO Sandra Lund, who adds that alternate funding sources could still be found.

“We won’t know until budget deliberations are completed, but we are required to have the Borrowing Bylaw in place so that if council does decide to go ahead with the project and needs a debenture to help fund it, we can begin construction in the spring to ensure the project can be completed in 2022.”

Borrowing funds would be done on a 30-year term with an estimated 3.564 per cent interest rate, and annual payments of just about $93,000. The borrowing would be well within the municipality’s debt limit.

“The redevelopment of 51 Avenue is a priority project that will improve the quality of life for the whole community, as it will result in important physical improvements that will help revitalize the downtown. Those improvements include preventing future water main breaks and sanitary sewage issues for businesses along that street,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson.

“The project is a critical capital project to promote economic development in our community and attract new businesses, shoppers and tourism to Ponoka.”

The proposed bylaw can be viewed in full at ponoka.ca.