MELFORT – At the Aug. 12 regular council meeting, Melfort council approved looking into local improvements, and have also developed a strategy to mitigate the use of those extra costs to property owners by building it into land prices.
Director of Public Works, Lydia Steffen said, “In recent years, the city has adopted a strategy of incorporating comprehensive infrastructure — such as utilities, roads, and sidewalks — into the development of streets. By including these improvements in the pricing of city lots, the city aims to streamline the development process and avoid potential delays associated with the local improvement process. This approach mitigates the challenges that can arise when property owners are not in agreement, thus facilitating a more efficient and predictable development timeline.”
Steffen said taxes will not increase for those who benefit from a local improvement, but homeowners will have options of how to pay their share of the associated costs.
The projects are for:
1. Rolled curb and gutter on the 200 block of Cairns Avenue East
2. Full-depth pavement on the 100 block of Babbington Avenue West
3. Full-depth pavement on the 100 block of Babbington Avenue East
Steffen stressed that delaying infrastructure upgrades will result in higher costs over time. “When considering the purchase of more affordable properties, please be aware of the existing infrastructure, or lack thereof, and the potential for future costs. The City strives to avoid developing areas without necessary infrastructure, as managing such improvements after development can be particularly challenging.”
“Once council has received all the necessary information to make a decision, a public engagement phase will follow. The City remains committed to addressing any questions from the public regarding local improvements. During this process, property owners will also have the opportunity to express their support or opposition to our recommendation.”, Steffen said.
Steffen said, “The proposed local improvements have not yet received approval as they were recently initiated by the city. The current phase, which involved securing council approval to draft reports for each project, represents the initial step in this procedure.”
