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In a recent letter to the editor (click here) a constituent complained that
the City hasn’t moved quickly enough on the repairs to the Johnston Bridge,
calling on residents to “start bothering those in charge” to make speedier
decisions on such major issues and, essentially, to stop spending money on
“less important” projects.
As Quesnel City Council heads into another budget cycle, the question of
priorities is always forefront in our minds; as are questions of
affordability, ratepayers’ willingness to pay, and Council’s legal
limitations on taxation and spending for major infrastructure projects.
The Johnston Bridge project is a good case in point for all of these
considerations.
From the moment the City was informed that this bridge had to be weight
restricted due to significant structural issues, staff have been working on
options for Council to consider to repair it. The development of these
options takes time and requires significant analysis by specialist engineers.
A report will be coming to Council soon with these experts’ recommendations.
However, Council also has to consider a project of this magnitude through the
lens of other significant budget pressures, our ability to pay for it, and
its time sensitivity.
There is a viable alternate route for trucks around the Johnston Bridge, and
residents and lighter commercial and industrial vehicles can still cross the
bridge, so Council has time to consider options for its repair. Council has
also worked with the Cariboo Regional District, School District, and the
Ministry of Transportation in an effort to ensure that Maple Drive is as safe
as it can be for pedestrians and residents while we explore these options.
Council must also consider the costs of repairing the Johnston Bridge,
currently estimated at around $7 million, in light of the City’s other
significant budget pressures.
For example, as a result of new standards and regulations, the need to expand
its existing footprint, and the need to recycle more, Council is faced with
incremental capital costs for the current landfill that will be in the
millions over the next few years.
Similarly, we have major capital projects that need to be undertaken to
modernize our water system. Looming over our heads is also the possibility of
having to build water treatment facilities, another project that is in the
tens of millions.
These large-scale, high price tag projects are problematic for Council from a
financing perspective, as they will all likely require referendums if we are
not successful at obtaining grants for them and have to finance them
ourselves. Unlike the provincial and federal governments, local governments
cannot borrow to underwrite large capital projects without voter assent
through either an alternate approval process or a referendum.
Council is hopeful that we’ve avoided the need to go to referendum for the
replacement of our #1 Firehall as we’ve obtained a significant grant to
renovate the existing hall. But, we have outstanding requests for a Centre
for the Performing Arts, new gymnastics facility, and a new indoor hard court
facility that would accommodate tennis, pickleball, and basketball in the
winter months and during smoke or heat events in the summer – all of these
projects would likely require a referendum too.
As Council formulates the 2022 capital budget, the Johnston Bridge repairs
will be considered within the context of all these other priorities.
And, as for those “less important” projects that are going on in the
meantime, most are funded by grants that are specifically issued to
underwrite such initiatives and these projects are important to the long-term
viability and resiliency of our community.
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